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Industry Experts Call for Action to Address Skills Gap in Marine Surveying
Experts from the energy and offshore industry urge the sector to support education and training initiatives to combat the critical skills gap in marine surveying, which is impacting offshore wind and subsea projects.
Industry Experts Call for Action to Address Skills Gap in Marine Surveying
The energy industry faces a growing challenge in addressing the critical skills gap in marine surveying, especially in the fields of hydrography and geophysics. As the offshore and renewable energy sectors evolve, the demand for highly skilled professionals in these fields has surged, particularly in offshore wind, subsea operations, and geotechnical surveys. The lack of experienced workers is causing significant delays and inefficiencies in survey projects, placing the industry at risk.
The gap in expertise stems from several factors, including the loss of institutional knowledge following the oil downturns and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With many experienced professionals leaving the workforce, there is a shortage of mentors who could guide new graduates in their careers. This shortage is compounded by a shift in the industry towards larger, higher-resolution surveys and compressed schedules that require more specialized skills—skills that current education systems are struggling to provide at the needed pace.
According to Chris McHugh, Head of Geophysical Innovation at Sulmara, the move from oil and gas to offshore wind has seen a 100% increase in the demand for hydrographers. This rapid shift caught many educational institutions unprepared, as they could not scale fast enough to meet the new needs of the industry. McHugh emphasizes that while oil and gas typically involved surveying smaller areas to place assets like platforms, offshore wind surveys cover vast seabeds, sometimes the size of small US states, to determine the locations for thousands of wind turbines.
Industry experts, including McHugh, Jonathan Beaudoin of Hydro-Octave Consulting, and Matt Hommeyer from the University of South Florida, are now urging the sector to take proactive steps to bridge the skills gap. They advocate for greater collaboration between universities, third-party training providers, and industry players to ensure the next generation of professionals is equipped with the right skills. These experts propose offering more short, applied training courses led by professionals in the field—giving students a practical, hands-on learning experience that traditional classroom settings may lack.
One of the proposed solutions to help address the shortage is targeted at training "green" or entry-level professionals. As Jonathan Beaudoin points out, customized training programs that cater directly to client needs can help accelerate the development of newly hired surveyors, thus reducing their vulnerability to the so-called “green tax” problem. These programs would also focus on attracting new talent into the industry by partnering with universities to reach students before they graduate, creating a smoother transition from school to professional work.
Another innovative approach being explored is offering summer courses that blend academic learning with real-world industry applications. These courses could serve as a recruitment tool while providing valuable skills in a shorter, more focused timeframe. However, a challenge that remains is balancing the needs of graduates who may possess advanced degrees or extensive theoretical knowledge but lack the hands-on experience needed for entry-level positions. As Matt Hommeyer from the University of South Florida highlights, highly qualified graduates may find themselves in roles that do not match their experience, leading to quicker transitions into supervisory or technical roles but further deepening the shortage of mid-level professionals.
The push for collaboration and targeted training is critical for the sustainability and growth of offshore industries, particularly as offshore wind projects continue to grow globally. Without addressing the skills gap, the industry risks delays, increased costs, and suboptimal execution of vital projects that rely on highly skilled marine surveyors and geophysicists. Experts agree that if all stakeholders contribute—whether through funding, mentorship, or training—the collective effort could bring about a significant improvement, allowing the industry to overcome the current skills shortage.
At SA Operations, we understand the critical importance of skilled professionals in offshore and renewable energy sectors. Our specialized recruitment services are committed to sourcing top-tier talent for your projects, ensuring that you have the right expertise to meet the growing demands of the industry. We’re proud to support initiatives that focus on the development of new professionals in the energy sector and look forward to seeing how these collaborative efforts shape the future of offshore surveying.
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