Prior to joining the team at Milton Keynes, much of his career was spent in Brazil, including working with TSC Inspection Services between 2013 and 2016 as well as roles with Texo and Eddyfi Technologies.
When he began his career with TSC he became a pioneer of ROV-deployed ACFM when it transitioned from diver-deployed ACFM. Since then, he’s been involved in the development of all of TSC’s extensive suite of ACFM tools, software and hardware. In more recent years he’s also been working with ARTEMIS®, SPA and PEC/PECA.
We asked Richard to tell us more about his work.
Tell us about your job.
As a Senior NDE Specialist, I am responsible for overseeing and conducting NDT activities to ensure the integrity and reliability of equipment, structures, and materials in various industries.
I’m also responsible for managing and training junior NDE technicians, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations, and collaborating with engineering and maintenance teams to optimise equipment performance and prevent downtime.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Being able to resolve complex offshore NDT challenges, seeing the positive feedback and that the client is happy at the end of each job. And being able to travel the world doing what I love.
Which of the technologies/innovations you’ve worked on has made the biggest impact?
Definitely the use of ACFM subsea on ROVs in general, but the NodeScanner™ would be the one that has made the biggest impact on the subsea NDT sector.
It allows NDT to be easily conducted on K-nodal joints, considered to be one of the most complex subsea structures which must be inspected.
You first started working with TSC Subsea in 2013. What attracted you to return?
I never really left. I was TSC’s first offshore employee then made business development manager for South America and Africa, based in Brazil. Although I was offered the opportunity to return to the UK, I decided to stay in Brazil and continued to work for TSC as a contractor. I then worked for Eddyfi Technologies for almost a year before being headhunted by one of TSC’s competitors. I had always felt that TSC was my second home and I didn’t want to work for a competitor, so I got in touch to discuss career options.
What gives TSC Subsea the leading edge over its competitors?
TSC Subsea’s R&D on its various technologies and innovations is developed or modified along with input we get from operators and in response to lessons learned during jobs. We are extremely responsive to client needs, designing and developing tools and equipment which is state of the art, and which are frequently developed in response to specific client requirements – often to very tight timescales.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the subsea inspection sector?
Being able to provide inspection tools that are lightweight, robust, and functional but at the same time capable of working at deep depths.
