Metocean Committee update: March 2026
IOGP Metocean Committee Update: March 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the latest update from the IOGP Metocean Committee! We are thrilled to share significant advancements across our initiatives, all designed to enhance knowledge, improve operational efficiency, reduce risk and drive innovation within the metocean sector. From cutting-edge training to pioneering AI applications and the dedicated work of our Expert Groups, we’re committed to providing the resources you need to succeed.
Elevate Your Metocean Understanding: Our New CBT Course is Here!
Launched at the end of March 2025, the IOGP Metocean Committee’s new Computer-Based Training (CBT) course is quickly becoming an essential resource for professionals. This interactive course is meticulously designed to cover key metocean processes, diverse data types, and their direct relevance to industry standards.
What You’ll Experience: The CBT features a dynamic blend of visual presentations, engaging videos, clear voiceovers, and practical quizzes, ensuring optimal knowledge retention and the ability to apply learned concepts effectively.
Positive Feedback & Growing Participation: To date, we’ve seen fantastic engagement, with over 325 participants either completing or actively progressing through the course at their own pace. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, consistently highlighting its well-structured content, informative nature, and exceptional clarity.
Who Can Participate? The Awareness Training is available and free of charge to IOGP members, third-party vendors, and individuals with registered company email addresses. Please note that personal email addresses are not accepted.
Ready to Learn? For more information and to register, visit our webpage: Metocean Computer-Based Training (CBT) Course | IOGP
Anticipating the Future: Applied AI in Metocean Report Coming Soon!
The future of metocean activities is increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence. The IOGP Metocean Committee is excited to announce the upcoming release of our comprehensive report: “Applied AI in Metocean.”
Available in the IOGP Library in March 2026, this paper explores current applications of AI across the metocean sector. It provides an in-depth overview of how AI technologies are enhancing:
- Data collection and acquisition
- Formulation of metocean criteria
- Forecasting processes that support critical operational decision-making.
This report is set to be a valuable resource for professionals, enabling them to familiarize themselves with practical AI implementations, assess their effectiveness, and understand the successes and challenges inherent in integrating AI into metocean activities. Our goal is to consolidate all aspects of AI relevant to metocean, fostering a deeper understanding of its impact on the industry.
Collaborative Power: JIPs and Our Thriving Expert Groups
The IOGP Metocean Committee is built on a foundation of collaboration and shared expertise. We actively support existing Metocean Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) and work diligently to align new JIPs (subject to agreement) within the IOGP framework, maximizing impact and resource utilization.
At the heart of our technical advancements are our six dedicated Expert Groups (EGs):
- Regional Hindcast & Forecast
- Extreme Weather
- Offshore Characterization & Loading
- Climate Change
- Standard & Guidelines & Learning
- Current Processes
These EGs operate on a highly successful “sweat equity” model, with budget requested for 3rd parties if required for specific deliverables. They are a testament to the power of shared knowledge, regularly discussing common industry challenges and potential solutions. With meetings ranging from bi-weekly to monthly, these groups are consistently developing deliverables that attract broad industry interest and serve as a formative place for identifying key budget items.
Expert Group Highlights: Pioneering Projects
Our Expert Groups are driving forward crucial projects that address pressing industry needs:
Regional Hindcast & Forecast EG: Pioneering AI and Data Visualization
- AI-Assisted Development of Tropical Cyclone Current Estimation System with Intelligent Agents – TraMP Phase 1: This cutting-edge project demonstrates AI-assisted systems engineering using Claude Code CLI. It’s developing a machine learning model to estimate surface currents (e.g., at Shell’s Stones location from hurricane tracks) and purpose-built intelligent agents that can answer end-user questions about hurricane statistics and data. This initiative uses a rigorous Systems Engineering V-model approach for collaborative development of requirements and validation.
- GIS (Geographic Information System) Tool Phase 1 & 2: This work involves developing and hosting a web-map viewer that will visually present the “crude” regional extents and associated metadata of the hindcasts currently contained in the Metocean Regional Hindcast Inventory CSV table. This will significantly enhance accessibility and usability of critical regional data.
Climate Change EG: Understanding Climate’s Impact on Metocean Parameters
The Climate Change EG has worked with a 3rd party to prepare a significant report focused on “Changes Between AR5 and AR6 WG1 IPCC Report, and Inferences on Changes to Climate States that Impact Primary and Derived Metocean Parameters.” This comprehensive report covers:
- Skills and limitations of Global Climate Models (GCMs)
- Key changes between AR5 and AR6 WG1 IPCC Reports
- Inferences on changing environmental conditions relevant to Metocean activities from Global and Regional Climate Models, and Re-Analyses
- Advances and planning for Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects (CMIP7)
This valuable report will be available to members in Q1 2026.
Extreme Weather EG: Enhancing Squall Forecasting Capabilities
Recognizing squall forecasting as a key operational issue within the metocean arena, the Extreme Weather EG is commissioning a third-party report to better understand the current state of play. Despite advances in remote sensing and high-frequency datasets, technology gaps still exist for effective squall monitoring and forecasting. The goal of this effort is to refocus industry efforts to enable more timely observation and warning of impactful squall events, thereby improving safety and operational planning.
The IOGP Metocean Committee remains dedicated to equipping the industry with the knowledge, tools, and insights needed to navigate complex offshore environments safely and efficiently. We encourage you to explore our resources, engage with our Expert Groups, and contribute to a safer, more effective industry.
Standards, Guidelines & Learning EG: Intercomparison Study
Driving standardization in Metocean engineering through collaborative research and data-driven analysis. The Metocean members of this EG are contributing to a significant industry-wide intercomparison study focused on operator Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) methodologies. This initiative directly supports the critical update of the ISO 19901-1 standard, ensuring that global offshore engineering design is founded on the most robust and validated metocean criteria.
For more details on any of these initiatives or to explore other IOGP Metocean resources, please visit our website: Metocean | IOGP
Sincerely,
The IOGP Metocean Committee
