PML Applications

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by PML Applications's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from PML Applications is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett, MP

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles, MP

www.pml-applications.co.uk

1PML APPLICATIONS LTD |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

Chief Executive

Professor Stephen de Mora

Testing anti-fouling technologies

at MeyGen tidal array

PML Applications Ltd takes the latest marine research

and applies it commercially to aid marine industries in

reducing their impact on the marine environment while

developing new technologies for their businesses. Its in-house

experts have a reputation for reliable and timely delivery and

an understanding of the commercial world to find solutions of

interest to industry and society. Professor Stephen de Mora,

Chief Executive of Plymouth Marine Laboratory and PML

Applications Ltd, tells

The ParliamentaryReview

more.

The ocean provides natural capital, directly through fisheries, transport, energy

and valuable bio-products, or indirectly through climate regulation and provision

of around half the oxygen we breathe. Exploiting these valuable resources while

ensuring the ocean remains sustainable is a delicate balancing act, requiring

excellent knowledge and innovative approaches. We take world-class marine

research and technological development and combine it with innovation to provide

outstanding service to industry across a global client base.

Our parent organisation, PML, is a leading marine research institute targeted

towards understanding how we can continue to exploit the ocean’s resources

while ensuring the ecological sustainability of the seas. Almost 20 years ago, we

took the decision to create our trading arm, PML Applications Ltd, focused, where

appropriate, on commercialising the best of this excellent science, or using it to

mitigate some of those threats the ocean faces.

FACTS ABOUT

PML APPLICATIONS LTD

»Chief Executive: Professor

Stephen de Mora

»Established in 2002

»Based in Plymouth, Devon

»Services: Ballast water testing,

biofouling, corrosion control,

marine survey, geospatial

applications

»2018/19 turnover grew by 93

per cent on previous financial

year

»www.pml-applications.co.uk

PML Applications Ltd

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

2| PML APPLICATIONS LTD

Stowaways and hitchhikers

The process of exploiting the ocean

is not without its challenges; climate

change, water quality, pollution and

invasive species are only some of the

challenges commanding our attention.

Invasive species in particular can

present a real threat to the survival

of native species and have serious

economic effects.

The discharge of ballast water – used

by ships in huge quantities for stability

and trim – has been identified as

a major source of invasive species.

Our Ballast Water Centre provides

the scientific, professional and

technical expertise required to confirm

compliance of ballast water treatment

systems and whether they meet US and

International Maritime Organization

regulations – the latter of which is still

to be ratified by the UK government.

The BWC is now working with global

shipping companies, including Carnival

UK, to test ballast water management

systems and ensure they meet these

requirements to prevent non-native

species being introduced from and into

ports around the world.

Growth of organisms on subsea

surfaces is a major concern for all

industries that place structures in the

sea including shipping, renewable

energy, power stations and offshore

oil and gas rigs. Biofouling organisms

on ship hulls increase drag and slow

ships down, leading to higher fuel

consumption and increased greenhouse

gas emissions, all the while providing

a pathway for invasive species to move

around the world’s seas.

The growth of barnacles and other

fouling organisms impedes the

efficiency of moving parts such as

subsea turbines, and block pipes and

inlets. Finding effective environmentally

safe, economically viable and easily

applied solutions is the primary activity

of our Centre for Marine Biofouling and

Corrosion, or CMBC. Working with

international companies, including

Rolls-Royce and AkzoNobel, the CMBC

assists its customers by testing and

developing novel coating technologies

together with researching the

fundamental mechanics of the fouling

process.

Such is the reputation gained by our

teams that they are much sought-after

as advisers on a range of national

and international bodies including the

Global TestNet, which brings together

organisations across the world involved

in shipboard testing for certification of

ballast water management systems and

ships’ biofouling management under

the IMO’s Ballast Water Management

Convention and biofouling guidelines.

We are also a strategic partner in the

GloFouling Partnership, where we both

supply expert opinions and influence

forward strategy and policy. Our team

also works with statutory bodies,

including carrying out non-native

species surveys, for example, on behalf

of Natural England.

Coating tests for marine

renewables at the

European Marine Energy

Centre

Niche area inspection on

ship’s hull

We take world-

class marine

research and

technological

development

and combine it

with innovation

to provide

outstanding

service to

industry across

a global client

base

“

3PML APPLICATIONS LTD |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

Going forward

Looking ahead, our Innovation

Centre aims to take marine science to

commercial markets, such as supplying

research vessels with carbon dioxide

monitoring instruments – including

the UK’s newest, the RRS

Sir David

Attenborough

. Feasibility studies are a

natural way to use our expertise, and

we are working with companies to

determine the potential for developing

a sustainable scallop hatchery as a

contribution to the increasing importance

of aquaculture to offset demands on

declining fisheriesworldwide.

A growing risk to aquaculture is

incursion of harmful algal blooms;

detecting these at an early stage is

important to prevent losses from

damage to stock, or closures to

reduce threats to human health. Our

Centre for Geospatial Applications is

accessing satellite imagery in almost

real time to spot approaching algal

blooms for a number of customers,

thus allowing preventative measures

to be put in place. Satellites are also

used by CGA across other topics,

such as marine ocean colour, oil spill

detection and the monitoring of illegal

fishing and climate projection as well

as working internationally with the

EC’s Copernicus Programme, UK and

European Space Agencies and industry.

Sharing our expertise is an important

element of what we do, so training

in techniques and encouraging better

understanding of challenges and

solutions for the future has grown as

a service, including leading massive

online open courses as well as

dedicated industry training.

We are now firmly established as

a reliable and effective gateway to

accessing the latest marine research and

technology for commercial use across

the shipping, marine coatings, ports and

harbours, marine energy, fisheries and

aquaculture, marine planning, maritime

security and environmental sectors.

We identify emerging issues where

our expertise and experience can be

brought to bear to provide outstanding

marine consultation, services and

products to a global client base.

Our parent

organisation,

PML, is a leading

marine research

institute targeted

towards

understanding

how we can

continue to

exploit the

ocean’s resources

while ensuring

the ecological

sustainability of

the seas

“

Satellite sensors detect

harmful algal blooms

(orange), a threat to

aquaculture

On-board ballast water treatment

system efficacy testing for Carnival

www.pml-applications.co.uk

The Parliamentary Review Publication, in which this article originally appeared, contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Michael Gove.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster