Clearly, this workshop has established the existence of a need for, and a strong interest in, improving the quality of underwater welds. That need extends internationally and includes structures and pipelines, as well as floating systems. The workshop has also challenged us as intelligent beings to think of the future in a new light. The problems experienced with underwater welds, are the opportunities of the future researchers and developers.

The opportunities extend across many fields and in most cases offer the added challenge of being multidisciplinary. Materials technology, from different strength, but weldable, base metals to new welding consumables will be needed. New equipment designed to withstand greater depths as well as taking advantage of the latest electronic and computer technology. But perhaps the most exciting of all is the concept of autonomous intelligent robot systems capable of both inspection and welding. There will be many technological achievements between now and the time of these robots. But, certainly, they will exist and the vision of internationally recognized individuals of the advancements yet to happen, will surely drive those changes. The participants in this workshop have completed their tasks  it is now left for us to respond with our best ideas and most fruitful efforts.

The quality of underwater welding will then move toward excellence.

The organizing committee for this workshop extends a special thanks to the participants. Everyone who attended made contribution and the result was a compilation of the cumulative ideas of the world's experts in underwater welding.

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Last Updated: 07/28/2008, 02:47 PM