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Marine R&D in Norway Continuous improvement characterizes the countrys oshore sector A free-fall life boat FF1200 resurfaces after test launch from a height of 33 m from a crane vessel, which is located outside the picture, to the left. Photo courtesy Umoe Schat-Harding Equipment AS/Arild Lokøy. BY PETER CHRISTIAN SANDVIK AND CARL TRYGVE STANSBERG Norway has a long history of relating to the harsh environment of the ocean surrounding its long coastline. e ocean oered rich sh resources and was the main transport line centuries before land transport gradually became possible and compet- itive. Maritime tradition is the main reason why, over the last two centuries, it was possible for this small and sparsely populated country to develop one of the largest merchant eets in the world. Oil was first found on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in 1969, and Norway was totally dependent on American and French petroleum expertise for the development of these huge resources. Eventually the transferred technology was adapted and combined with the Norwegian tradition within marine technology. Since the 1960s, the number of master of science candidates graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) within marine tech- nology has increased gradually, from 30 to 100 per year, and is still increasing. e Centre for Ships and Ocean Structures at NTNU has been nanced by the Research Council of Norway 2002-2012. An Arctic research project is managed by NTNU, which also is the host organiza- tion for the Centre for Research-based Innovation on Sustainable Arctic Marine and Coastal Technology?, which is a collaboration activity with Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. Other relevant Norwegian research is organized through OG21, oil and gas in the 21st century; the Norwegian Deepwater Programme; and maritime research and information strategy for the 21st century. On the NCS, oating production units with sub- sea completions have been common. is implies wet threes and exible riser systems. In recent years, many exible risers have exhibited several types of failure located at various layers, and the end termination has been a particularly critical zone. Comprehensive work is focused on riser construction as well as on hydro- dynamic loads. Later eld developments include ultra deep water (greater than 1000 m) with steel catenary risers (SCRs). Stationkeeping of production ships and platforms has, since 1973, been subject to a continuous eort aimed at improving the performance and reliability of systems in the North Sea region. Vessel owners, oil companies, classification societies and research institutions, and governmental authorities all have been involved in this work. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is organizing several stud- ies within this eld. A significant effort on the NCS today involves increasing the recovery of oil and gas and to use exist- ing infrastructure for production from marginal elds. Development of new subsea technology and specialized construction vessels represent part of this eort. January 2013 www.sname.org/sname/mt ( mt notes )