Cluster Insight with DeepOcean

– We are working with a number of projects which will have an enormous impact on the way we are working – like our Remote Operations Centre for ROV’s, says Andries Ferla.

Cluster Insight is a column where we ask six questions to catch a glimpse into the daily business-lives of the partners and members of GCE Ocean Technology.

This week we have spoken with Andries Ferla, to learn more about him and his work in DeepOcean - a leading subsea services provider, servicing any equipment with specialised expertise.

1. What is your role in DeepOcean?

I am the Ocean Solutions and Technology Director in DeepOcean. This means I have two separate, but very much linked responsibilities. On the one hand I am leading our Innovation and Technology development team. They are working to develop new technology to improve our way of working, both in cost, safety, and environmental footprint. My other responsibility is to grow our company within what we call ocean solutions, the emerging markets in the ocean space.

2. Your primary focus at work right now is?

DeepOcean has a vast knowledge and competence to serve our clients in the renewables and oil and gas space. My primary focus today is how we can use this experience together with the new technologies to serve clients in the new markets. We know we have a lot to contribute to the exploration, and later production of deep sea minerals. But our services are also very relevant to offshore activities such as aquaculture and environmental monitoring.

3. Biggest challenges and opportunities for DeepOcean in the future?

The future is looking bright for our company. We are seeing rising activity levels in our offshore operations. Windstaller, our renewable energy alliance with Aker Solutions and Solstad Offshore is getting great traction in the market as well.

On the technology side we are also working with a number of projects which will have an enormous impact on the way we are working. We have had great success with our Remote Operations Centre (ROC), where we control work class ROVs from shore. These technology projects will add more functionality and smarter ways of working to the ROC.

4. Best part of being member in a cluster?

Before Covid (sounds like a long time ago) I had participated in a few events organised by GCE Ocean Technology. These were great forums for us to meet partners and stakeholders active in our main, and new markets - to share best practices and exchange ideas.

5. Your business/life motto

We live by our values: Attitude, Courage and Teamwork. This creates ACT, which describes the dynamic culture and can-do attitude of our teams.

6. Which cluster member should we interview next?

uSEA.

Thank you for the insight Andries.