Where engineering meets project management

Members of the APM Scotland Network, Alastair Laird, Obinna Okonkwo, Roy Potts and Chukwuebuka Ononiwu joined up with Subsea 7’s Ross McSkimming during April 2026 for a site and facility tour.  

This was an ideal opportunity to see first-hand the scale of the design and pipeline manufacturing technologies being developed at their world class welding and R&D testing facility in Clydebank Glasgow.  On the day we were joined by Findlay Cumming and Martin Thomson from Subsea7 for the main discussion session. Ross McSkimming then led our tour and was supported by Thomas Marting from the pipeline welding centre.

By way of introduction, Ross explained his career journey from engineering and product development into project management.  As an APM member and chartered project professional he understood how important it was to manage the lifecycle of work from R&D testing and technology development; from knowing how this would be delivered and applied in the field.  For Subsea7 this involved deploying specialist ships to lay new international pipelines and cabling runs for offshore energy production. Working within the constraints of fleet vessel capability and availability, seasonal weather windows and site-specific needs this inevitably took our discussion to project delivery pre-planning, risk management and client/stakeholder engagement.  

Aside from the project scope delivered by Ross he explained his role in supporting the Global Pipeline Welding Development Centre.  Opened in 2013, the centre is used for setting new standards for welding and delivers world class training and people certification. Its R&D capability is fully focussed on developing advanced pipeline designs and connective welding techniques to create the longevity needed for each subsea application.  

After our office based induction from Findlay the group went on a tour of the centre, had a Q&A session with Thomas Marting Development Centre Supervisor, and we finished up our day enjoying the outdoor sunshine and reflecting on the importance of this facility to Clydeside and to Scotland. The conversation concluded with reflections on the journey from the early 1900s when Clydeside was the undisputed shipbuilding and welding capital of the world.
 
Many thanks from APM Scotland to Subsea7 leads for organising such an insightful day.