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CENTRESPREADContinued from page 19...Mr Chow also elaborated on therising demand for local content inoffshore and marine solutions ascountries with significant oil andgas resources seek to capture moreeconomic value from these assetsfor their domestic economies.Touching on the hot topic of shalegas, Mr Chow stated that it wouldbe a “game changer” for theenergy industry in the longer term.At the moment, the technologiesand infrastructure to extract andexport shale gas are limited.Addressing the issue ofcompetition from China and Korea,Mr Chow acknowledges that yardsfrom the two countries are movinginto the rigbuilding market, andthat the Chinese in particular areable to offer competitive pricesand financial terms for theirservices. In response to the risingcompetition, Keppel O&M willcontinue to focus on deliveringvalue-added services and providerobust, market-relevant solutionsas well as optimise its operationsand raise its productivity.Joining Mr Chow in sharing atthe Offshore session was keynotespeaker Mr Noboru Ueda,Chairman & President of ClassNK,and panelists Mr Paul Aston,Managing Partner of HolmanFenwick Willan Singapore LLP,Mr Lionel Lee, Group MD, EzraHoldings, Mr Kenneth Richardson,VP, Energy Development, ABSand Professor Martin Stopford,President of Clarkson ResearchServices Ltd. Mr Matt Frei,journalist and broadcaster with ITNLondon, moderated the session.Sharing on shipyardtechnologiesDr Basil Lui, Corporate andTechnology Manager, KeppelOffshore & Marine TechnologyCentre (KOMtech), representedthe group at the Technology @Shipyards forum.Dr Lui introduced Keppel O&M’sresearch and development(R&D) and technology units andtechnology strategy. He explainedthat technology foresight,knowledge management andinnovation are critical to thegroup’s growth as a technologyfocusedcompany.Soon after KOMtech was formed in2007, a technology foresight groupwas started so that Keppel O&Mcould more deeply understand thepreferences and requirements ofits customers, Dr Lui elaborated.Regarding the group’s knowledgemanagement and innovationinitiatives, Dr Lui shared thatKeppel O&M encourages its peopleto actively participate in in-houseand external discussion platformsto broaden their perspectives andget feedback for their ideas.The group’s concerted efforts tobetter understand its customersas well as engage in R&D andinnovation has borne fruit. Today,the group possesses a range ofproprietary solutions which enjoywide market-acceptance.Mr Chow Yew Yuen (third from left), COO of Keppel O&M, shared his thoughts on the outlook of the industry at Sea Asia’s Offshore talk, which wasmoderated by Mr Matt Frei (left), journalist and broadcaster with ITN London. Other panelists include (second from L-R) Mr Paul Aston, ManagingPartner of Holman Fenwick Willan Singapore LLP, Mr Lionel Lee, Group MD, Ezra Holdings, Mr Kenneth Richardson, VP, Energy Development, ABS, andProfessor Martin Stopford, President of Clarkson Research Services20OffshoreMarine March – April 2013