Claxton partnering with the National Decommissioning Centre, the University of Aberdeen and the Net Zero Technology Centre, have been developing an underwater laser cutting solution. This involves interfacing a 15kW industrial laser system to a custom designed subsea laser cutting head with associated intelligent control and monitoring system with electronic motion control. This will offer a feasible alternative to conventional cutting methods, bringing a low-carbon, quick and clean underwater cutting technology to the decommissioning market.

This lecture will outline the cutting system and describe how laser cutting can be conducted underwater. It will summarise the results of successful cutting trials, both tank testing at the NDC and in deeper water at Loch Kishorn on the Scottish West Coast. It will describe the various benefits of such a system and will describe the work currently being done to productionise and further develop the system for both offshore industry decommissioning and also for nuclear decommissioning, including evaluation work being performed for use at active US Nuclear Decommissioning sites.

Meet at 6pm for tea and coffee. There will be a very short AGM for the Aberdeen Area IMechE at 6.30pm prior to the commencement of the lecture.