Mintlaw Academy wins annual ROV competition

Mintlaw Academy has won an annual competition, which sees pupils from across Scotland put underwater robots they have designed and built to the test.

The Scottish leg of the challenge, co-ordinated and hosted by Robert Gordon University (RGU), saw 11 schools put underwater robots they have designed and built.

The Mintlaw team won, after a panel of industry experts scored the teams on how well they completed the missions, as well as taking into consideration the technical reports, poster displays, and engineering presentations the pupils were required to produce. It is the third time the school has won the competition.

The major STEM initiative aims to inspire future engineers through hands-on experience of designing remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) used underwater in the oil and gas, defence, oceanology and marine renewables industries.

BP North Sea has been a major sponsor of the Scottish regional competition since its launch in 2008, with Subsea UK joining the company as headline sponsor for the second year. ROVOP and The Underwater Centre in Fort William provide additional funding.

Joanne McDonald, team leader of the Mintlaw Academy team, said: "It’s amazing, it’s taking a bit of time to sink in. As the prizes were being announced we started to think that we hadn’t even placed so we are all so surprised. All our hard work has paid off. We’re going to Houston!"

She added: “The competition has been great – it has been good working as a team and getting a taste of real life engineering. There’s a few new members on the team this year and I’m really pleased with how everything has come together.”

Tim Smith, Vice President Communications & External Affairs for BP North Sea, said: “The ROV design competition has become a real highlight in the engineering calendar and BP is delighted to once again support RGU with this excellent initiative. The MATE ROV challenge offers pupils a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the oil and gas industry and supports BP’s strategy to develop capability and talent in the STEM subjects.”

Subsea UK chief executive, Neil Gordon, said: “The MATE ROV competition is a great way to inspire the next generation and expose them to the subsea industry through realistic, hands-on experience. Despite the current challenges, we must take a long term approach to skills and work hard to engage with those who will drive our sector forward in years to come. If we don’t continue to attract, train and develop young people, we will not have the talent required to support the future of one of the world’s most important industries.”

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/04042016/mintlaw-academy-come-out-on-top-in-annual-rov-competition-2340/