SMARTBAY Ireland manages Ireland’s marine test and demonstration facility in Galway Bay which supports the collection of marine data for the National and International R&D communities and the trial, demonstration and validation of novel marine sensors and equipment (including ¼ scale Ocean Energy Devices). The company develops collaborative translation projects which aim to develop innovative ICT products and services for the global maritime industry. Clients include both national and international Ocean Energy Device Developers and Marine Sensor developers.
Contact person: Eoin Nicholson eoin.nicholson@smartbay.ie
Website: http://www.smartbay.ie/
Role of SMARTBAY in COLUMBUS
SMARTBAY will provide input into Work Packages 2 to 8.
Profile of staff engaged in the project:
John Breslin, the general manager of SMARTBAY Ireland, is responsible for the overall management of the National Research, Test and Demonstration Platform for Wave Energy Devices, Marine Sensors, Equipment and ICT Solutions. John’s project portfolio includes; marine vessel & ROV asset management, strategic business planning, market and investment analysis, product feasibility studies, acquisitions and transition planning. John graduated with a MSc (Research) from UCD, a BSc in Marine and Fisheries Biology from the University of Aberdeen and has other qualifications in Applied Chemistry, Laboratory Practices and Aquaculture. Previously he has held management and director positions and has over 20 years’ experience in marine survey, environmental consultancy, vessel operations & commercial management. John worked as the commercial manager for Europe at P&O Maritime and was responsible for developing and implementing the European regions growth strategy within the Offshore Wind and Government Shipping Sectors. While employed at the Marine Institute John was responsible for the Management of Ireland’s Research Vessels and Deepwater ROV. John was a Co-owner and Director at Seabed Surveys International, a specialist hydroacoustic survey company.
Dr Rogério Chumbindo is a senior project manager and leads the SMARTBAY team of marine technicians and is directly responsible for the deployment, operations and maintenance, recovery and high-speed wireless data transmission associated with any equipment or devices deployed by SMARTBAY including data buoys, novel marine equipment and ocean energy devices. Rogério spent 15 years working with the Portuguese Navy at the Hydrographic Office where he worked in Hydrography, Oceanography and Marine Data Management. He was the first Director of the Hydrographic Office’s Data Centre. He holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, USA, and a degree in Hydrographic Engineering from the Hydrographic Office. After leaving the service, he worked for several years in the Portuguese Continental Shelf Delimitation Program and ran his own business on location-based Decision Support Systems and GIS, with projects in Portugal and abroad. Rogério was also an Associate Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Dynamical Oceanography in Lisbon’s Universidade Lusofona.
Niamh Flavin is the Project Co-ordinator and Administrator at SMARTBAY Ireland. She is responsible for the co-ordination of all administrative elements in regard to SMARTBAY research projects. Niamh studied Marketing and holds a BBS. She worked as a sales territory manager for over 15 years, before joining SMARTBAY in 2012. She is currently in the final months of completing a MSc in Information Systems Management in National University of Ireland Galway.
