Synopsis Radiocarbon ages on shells of the high arctic marine mollusc Portlandia arctica collected from a glaciomarine bed immediately within the terminal position of the former Loch Lomond Readvance Creran glacier and probably overridden by it suggest that its maximum extent was reached during the second half (10 500–10 000 B.P.) of the Loch Lomond stade period and possibly as late as 10 000 B.P. Arctic marine faunas which flourished in the vicinity of this tidewater glacier and the glacier of similar age which occupied Loch Lomond may likewise date from late in the Loch Lomond stade.

Profound changes in Arctic sea-ice, a growing desire to utilize the Arctic's abundant natural resources, and the potential competitiveness of Arctic shipping routes, all provide for increased industry marine activity throughout the Arctic Ocean. This is anticipated to result in further challenges for maritime safety. Those operating in ice-infested waters require various types of information for sea-ice and iceberg hazards. Ice information requirements depend on regional needs and whether the stakeholder wants to avoid ice all together, operate near or in the Marginal Ice Zone, or areas within the ice pack. An insight into user needs demonstrates how multiple spatial and temporal resolutions for sea-ice information and forecasts are necessary to provide information to the marine operating community for safety, planning, and situational awareness. Although ship-operators depend on sea-ice information for tactical navigation, stakeholders working in route and capacity planning can benefit from climatological and long-range forecast information at lower spatial and temporal resolutions where the interest is focused on open-water season. The advent of the Polar Code has brought with it additional information requirements, and exposed gaps in capacity and knowledge. Thus, future satellite data sources should be at resolutions that support both tactical and planning activities.

This paper will show how learning from another industry can have a measureable, positive impact on the energy sector; and how BP's recognition and early adoption of one visualization system has generated significant value through reduced Operational Expenditures (OPEX), increased efficiencies and enhanced collaboration. This paper will show how BP was a pioneering adopter of visual asset management (VAM) through its use of the R2S system and how its search for innovative technological solutions outside the energy industry uncovered R2S, a technology that had been used since 2003 for crime scene forensic investigations. BP recognized that R2S would be invaluable in providing onshore staff with a detailed view of offshore facilities, comprehensive visual context, reduced travel and bed space requirements and improved access to vital information. The case studies referenced in this paper provide examples from both the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico that demonstrate how the adoption of this technology has yielded considerable financial and time savings (stretching into man years); improved collaboration, familiarisation, problem solving, HSE and, crucially, reduced bed space requirements. From a technology designed to support a completely different industry - forensic, R2S has evolved into a technology which is supporting BP, to meet several key challenges facing the industry, not least the lack of offshore bed space. As an established norm for asset management within various BP business segments and throughout its supply chains, this paper will also show how, through continued collaboration with the R2S development team, BP's R2S users are working to ensure the system evolves to meet business needs going forward.

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