MIIN Member Spotlight - Irwin Carr Consulting
Share
For our next #MIIN Member Spotlight, we speak to Rasmus Sloth Pederson, who is an Acoustic Consultant, Modeller & Software Developer with Irwin Carr Consulting.
Introduce yourself and the organisation? What is your role? What is your focus area?
Rasmus has worked with Irwin Carr Consulting since 2015 and is bringing in expertise from his background in bioacoustics and marine biology. He is an essential part of our underwater noise team, both in terms of software development and support, but also in marketing and technical underwater noise training courses.
Rasmus previously worked in the Danish and UK oil industry and with the Irish Government to map offshore marine mammal and noise distribution in the north-east Atlantic.
Irwin Carr started in room and airborne acoustics, which has well-established tools for noise modelling, and identified a lack of the same for underwater noise. In 2013 “dBSea” underwater noise modelling software was developed by a partner and us. We now sell the software and use it to conduct underwater noise modelling for acoustics impact assessments all over the world. We have also developed custom tools for source modelling to large energy companies.
Tell us more about Irwin Carr Consulting. Where is it located? What do you do?
Irwin Carr are consulting engineers. We are located in Carlingford Lough, Warrenpoint, Co. Down and in Belfast, Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland. While we have sufficient marine experience to do most field work, most work is carried out remotely where the data needed for underwater noise modelling already exists in good quality.
For over a decade, we have worked on numerous projects throughout Ireland and the UK. Our software distribution and underwater noise expertise has also exposed us to projects throughout the world.
What is your organisation’s unique selling point (USP)?
We sell and develop the only (to our knowledge) commercially available underwater noise modelling tool (dBSea) for modelling the spread of noise in marine environments, and as such are experts in its use. We are a small but proven team, able to deliver high-quality consulting services worldwide.
Are you developing a new product/innovation?
While the main product, dBSea, is no longer a “new” innovation, we are continuously developing it to improve its capabilities (moving receivers) and accuracy (fully 3D solvers and additional validation).
What motivates you in your role with Irwin Carr Consulting?
There is a high degree of learning and development as part of the daily tasks. We keep up to date on academic publishing, industry movement, and regulation changes to anticipate and facilitate better and more relevant noise modelling for our clients.
What is your vision for the marine industry in Ireland over the next 10 years?
We would like to see the marine industry in Ireland incorporate a version of the quiet-ports projects, to limit underwater noise near busy ports. As well as this, we would like to see a development of true protected marine areas to increase the ecological robustness of our seas.
It would be beneficial to the entire industry to see more settled technologies, in terms of marine energy converters, to facilitate Ireland’s energy independence.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for Ireland’s marine industry in the coming 5 to 10 years?
Establishment of large-scale marine energy converters to power Ireland, which has ample wave and tidal energy available around the coast.
What is the biggest challenge, in your opinion, facing businesses in the marine industry in 2022?
In our opinion, one of the biggest challenges faced this year has been the lack of government vision and long-term planning. In order for things to change, the government needs to set out clear goals for maybe 20 years into the future (and stick to them), while providing realistic funding. Also develop better government capabilities to actually set the boundaries of what is expected of projects so that better evaluation of proposals can happen.
What international markets are you interested in?
Irwin Carr Consulting is not limited to working just in the UK and Ireland. We work globally, so every international market is of interest to us. We believe there is opportunities for us worldwide to grow and provide expertise in everywhere you may find underwater noise.
What is one thing you’d like to share with the network?
We recently provided a new noise source modelling tool to a major European offshore energy provider, and completed the noise impact assessment of the German polar expeditions for Antarctic expeditions until 2027.
Where can we find more information about you and Irwin Carr Consulting?
You can reach us at any of the below links:
Website:
Email:
LinkedIn:
Twitter:
Blog:
YouTube: