Abstract

This keynote address outlines the challenges involved in successfully delivering an offshore transportation and installation project. Compared to land-based projects, offshore projects are unique in terms of issues encountered in their successful completion. Key among these originate from environmental effects, requirements to work at depths where direct human intervention is not always possible and often depends on assistance from ROVs and other remotely operated installation aids and equipment, and the lack of a stable platform for load-handling equipment such as cranes, winches, etc. The extent and nature of challenges vary with geographical location, water depths, and the nature of the seabed, as all these factors influence environmental loadings and hence the behaviour of assets being installed and installation aids. Complexity also varies with the exact nature of the operation, for example, the installation of a jacket presents different issues than a shallow water pipelay.

The present paper will illustrate the above points with carefully chosen examples of different offshore transportation and installation projects delivered in shallow to ultra-deep waters. Examples are selected to cover commonly encountered marine operations used in typical field development projects. Illustrations include typical geographical locations (influencing metocean data) across the world, possible water depth variations, and commonly adopted development options. The aim of the address is to provide a comprehensive view for current and future practitioners in this field, introducing them to issues that are typical for offshore projects and need to be resolved for successful execution.

Abstract

The abstract linear wave equation provides a unifying framework for the study of wave phenomena in diverse physical contexts. In this talk, I will present the formulation of the abstract linear wave equation, emphasizing its operator-theoretic structure and spectral properties. This perspective allows for a rigorous treatment of well-posedness, energy conservation, and modal decompositions, while also offering a natural pathway to numerical and asymptotic methods. I will then focus on applications to marine hydrodynamics, where wave–structure interactions are central to problems in coastal engineering, naval architecture, and ocean energy. Particular attention will be given to how abstract theory informs the analysis of scattering, radiation, and resonance for floating and fixed structures in ocean waves. Through this connection, I will highlight both the power of abstract analysis in providing general insights and its practical implications for modelling and simulation in marine environments.