Undersea Defense Technology (UDT), a European conference and exhibition for the undersea defense sector, will again demonstrate the ability to respond to developments in subsea security that has been the hallmark of the event for more than 25 years.
The UDT conference agenda for 2013 reflects the ever broadening portfolio of challenges that face all concerned with security and safety in the subsea environment, including how these will affect the development and operation of the key submarine and surface ship platforms. These platforms are having to respond to change at an unprecedented rate through technological innovation and the adoption of new operating concepts.
The overall concept of responding to established and emerging challenges will be developed by four super themes dedicated to future operational and strategic issues; innovative solutions; flexible technologies and advanced research.
The conference will be led by a plenary session in which senior figures from the operator community will describe their needs and prevailing circumstances. The conference content will also recognise such imperatives as the need to meet cost challenges through the development of multi-application technologies and platform consolidation.
Captain (Ret.) Raimund Wallner of the German Navy, Chairman of the UDT 2013 conference committee, said, 'This conceptual approach to the conference agenda, which focuses on flexible technologies and innovative, cost-effective solutions in the underwater environment offers a unique angle to UDT this year.’
Rear Admiral Simon Williams OBE, of Clarion Events, the event organisers, said, 'The undersea environment is the most testing one that man encounters - and that includes space exploration. Subsea technology has to deal with a highly corrosive medium that exerts enormous pressures. Yet the arteries that enable much of our communications and energy increasingly run beneath the sea and as these approach the shore they become increasingly vulnerable. The sea bed is also a crucially important source of extractive energy production, bringing with it potential conflict between national interests as well as the threat of terrorism. While advanced submarines are very potent weapons, we have to be equally prepared to counter the asymmetrical threats posed by mines, divers and unsophisticated subsea vehicles'.
He continued, 'Because the subsea environment is so hostile, operating within it demands significant ongoing investment by all nations and organisations with maritime interests. The need to reconcile budgetary and operational demands drives innovation, which will once again be the core theme of this year's UDT conference. We shall be bringing together leading minds to share frontiers of knowledge, daring to look into the future while recognizing the security imperative. This event will again build on its significant strengths to further the cause of undersea security'.
UDT 2013 will be staged at CCH - Congress Center, Hamburg, Germany from 18-20 June. For more information please contact Carol Seath on +44 (0)208 7489797 or email carol.seath@cmsstrategic.com