Liam Flood MIMarEST is Navigation Manager at Magseis

Name & Professional Registration

Liam Flood MIMarEST

IMarEST Membership Status (Student, Affiliate, Associate, Member or Fellow?)

Member

Role and organisation

Navigation Manager, Magseis

Summarise what you do in one sentence

I am responsible for all aspects of positioning related to our ocean bottom node seismic survey operations to current and future clients, including implementing new marine positioning technology and methods to improve operational efficiency.

Describe a typical workday

I typically review what has happened in the last 24 hours offshore and see if there is anything I can do from the office to assist in operations.This can be providing or analysing data, chasing sub contractors, giving advice or just talking though a problem with the offshore crew.

I am heavily involved in the survey design and planning for tender documentation, providing input on bathymetry, metocean data, efficient acquisition patterns and positioning specific risk assessments covering things like equipment lifespan and usage.

I also follow up with suppliers and develop new supplier relationships with the aim of getting equipment to make our operation more efficient.

Describe your academic/training history and how you got to where you are today.

I have a degree from Newcastle University, BSc(Hons) Surveying and Mapping Sciences, with a specialisation in hydrographics. After some initial training with the Royal Navy I started offshore as a seismic navigator in 2007. I progressed through the offshore grades to Chief Navigator and then got the opportunity to move Norway as a Vessel Manager. I have now moved back to the technical side of the business and am a Navigation Manager. I followed a fairly normal career path in seismic survey but have progressed quickly and moved from having a technical focus offshore with Wavefield/CGG/Dolphin Geophysical, to onshore operations with Dolphin Geophysical and then back to a technical role onshore with Magseis. The combination of my degree and some limited experience at sea with the navy certainly helped get me started in the industry.

What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

• I use a lot of communication skills; talking to people, gathering information from reports and then using this information to make decisions.
• I use a variety of GIS and mapping software to produce detailed bathymetry charts or other spatial analysis to assist our operations.
• I use negotiation skills to get the best deal I can from suppliers.
• I use the knowledge from the different experiences I have had onshore and offshore in technical and operations. It is this combination of experience that helps the most I think.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The variety and the freedom I have to develop solutions that may improve efficiency offshore.

What challenges have you had to overcome?

The biggest challenge is sifting through jargon. I really try to speak and write plainly and clearly. This is very important in an international environment when there are at least 10 different nationalities in the room.

How has being a member of the IMarEST helped you in your career?

It helps keep me up to date with technology in the industry and gives a benchmark so people outside of the seismic industry, a sector not that many people are aware of, know what I am capable of.

Give us an interesting fact about you!

I have worked in around 30 countries so far in a fairly short career.