The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development:

Youth Event Sparks Interest in Ocean Technology Sector

Last Friday, I had the good fortune of joining representatives from StatOil, Terra Nova, Exxon Mobil, and Ocean Quest to help launch the Marine Advanced Technology Education Centre’s 2012 Remotely Operated Vehicle competition at the Marine Institute.

This annual competition brings together students from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to execute specified tasks using remotely operated vehicles that they have designed and built.

This year’s competition highlighted the role that remotely operated vehicles play in evaluating World War II shipwrecks and the potentially hazardous material that they may still contain. During the competition, which took place in the Marine Institute’s Flume Tank, teams completed tasks where they surveyed a shipwreck site and removed oil from the shipwreck.

The competition is an engaging and rewarding experience for students and continues to grow in popularity. This year 200 highly-energized students representing 20 high schools participated in the competition.

Clarenville High School repeated as provincial champion and will now represent the province at the international competition in Orlando, Florida.

I congratulate Clarenville High School and wish them all the best in Orlando. I would also like to acknowledge the important contribution of the event coordinators at the Marine Institute, all of the teachers, participants and sponsors for making this event possible. It requires a significant commitment as they volunteer evenings and weekends to construct these impressive vehicles and deliver a first-class event.

Mr. Speaker, events of this nature are critical in sparking the interest of today’s youth to the vast opportunities that exist in Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean technology sector – a sector that is looking to double its value to a billion dollars by 2015. Past students have already used this experience to guide them through their career choice and are now actively engaged in this promising sector.

As a government, we are working with our industry and community partners to advance initiatives of this nature that support the long-term growth of key industry sectors. By providing unique learning experiences to those 200 students and countless others throughout the province we are increasing their ability to discover new riches, develop new businesses, and to become future pioneers.

2012 05 10                   1:45 p.m.