Manufacturer of unmanned marine systems ASV announced that James Hailstones has joined its team as the company expands its reach into the offshore energy market.
Based in Aberdeen, Hailstones will lead industry engagement as more firms look to introduce autonomous surface vehicles into their operations.
Hailstones is an electronics engineer with over 30 years experience in the offshore survey industry, operating in the oil and gas, government, communications and renewable sectors. After spending 15 years working in an offshore environment on a global basis, Hailstones moved into various managerial positions working both in the U.S. and U.K. over the last 15 years.
“The current downturn in the oil and gas market is rapidly breaking the status quo on how the industry functions. This dynamic change is a great opportunity for new technology and methodologies, such as the ones created by ASV, to gain a foothold and exploit their cost reduction potential,” Hailstones said.
Following successful operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Irish Sea and various locations off the U.K., ASV said it has begun expanding its C-Worker fleet of ASVs. The multipurpose work class vehicles have the ability to integrate multiple offshore payloads for a variety of tasks including surveying and monitoring.
The newly established Aberdeen base is in addition to ASV’s existing sales offices in Houston, Texas and Portsmouth, U.K.