Welcome to the 23^rd Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering (OMAE 2004) Symposium and the beautiful city of Vancouver. The entire Extended Executive Committee (EEC) of the Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering  (OOAE) Division of ASME International welcomes you to OMAE 2004 and extends an  invitation to all participants to join  the ranks of volunteers who make this exceptional Conference a highly anticipated annual event. The timing of the 23^rd OMAE could not be more appropriate as global demand for crude oil soars resulting in higher gasoline prices. At those prices, drilling and production from new offshore reserves in deeper waters become financially viable.

Industry, academia, and government agencies from around the world meet at OMAE annually to discuss novel ideas for exploration and utilization of new ocean resources. The goal of OOAE always remains the development of novel concepts, better understanding of the environmental forces, and safer operation of structures in the often harsh ocean environment. Accordingly, OMAE consists of seven Symposia (Offshore Technology, Safety and Reliability, Materials Technology, Pipeline Technology, Ocean Space Utilization, Ocean Engineering, Polar and Arctic Sciences and Technology), one or more specialty symposia, and several workshops. Participants from over 20 countries show the international appeal of OMAE. Cosponsoring of this conference by more than 30 international professional societies is evidence of the  interdisciplinary nature of the challenge of “Engineering for the Marine Environment”. The strong support of ASME International with its resources and experience makes OMAE even more appealing. Electronic processing of the papers on the Internet, a most informative web site, a high quality ASME Transactions Journal (JOMAE) for publication of the Conference papers of archival value, and outstanding staff contribute to the annual success of OMAE.

The OOAE Division is one of the strong and financially stable divisions of ASME. We expect that the ongoing reorganization of ASME will continue to strengthen the Division and maintain its primary function of serving our engineering discipline and community.  As you know, the Division operates on the good will of volunteers, and besides organizing OMAE annually, has numerous other interests of the community to address and resolve. Thus, we are in continuous need for new and younger people who are willing to volunteer their services for the benefit of the Division.

On behalf of the entire Extended Executive Committee of the OOAE Division of ASME, I would like to thank all the sponsors whose financial support helped defray some of the cost of the conference and make it accessible to a larger group of professional engineers in our field. It is important to acknowledge all the dedicated volunteers who worked hard for more than a year to make this Conference a success. It is hard for someone to imagine on one hand the energy, number of hours, determination, and dedication required and on the other hand the satisfaction of organizing a successful OMAE Conference. Professors Sander Calisal and Jonathan Mikkelsen top the list of volunteers as they bore the majority of the load with the OMAE Secretariat headed by Mrs. Sarah Lowis. The ASME International staff – John Bendo and Angela Buonvicino – supported the activities of OOAE and helped with developing and updating of the website and development of the electronic processing of papers and reviews. The Symposia Coordinators Drs. S. Chakrabarti, C. G. Soares, M. Salama, T. Jones, S. Estefen, T. Kinoshita, C. Ertekin, D. Valentine, W. Kuehnlein, and the International Committee members Drs. D. Morrison and J. Brekke year after year organize one of the seven standard and some of the special symposia and workshops of OMAE and are the corporate memory and heart of this activity. Numerous volunteers, who submit and present papers, organize sessions and review papers, make this conference possible. 

I believe that you will find the 23^rd OMAE Conference in Vancouver educational, informative, and worthwhile to your company and you personally, in terms of investment in time and resources. Please contact any of the members of the Local Organizing Committee or the Extended Executive Committee of the OOAE Division should you need assistance in making your experience most valuable. Your input on how to improve the annual OMAE Conference, your partaking in governing of the OOAE Division, and your participation in organizing OMAE annually are most welcome. Finally, do not miss the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Vancouver and take advantage of the many social activities available. In closing, I would like to extend to you an invitation from the OOAE Division to join us again for the 24^th OMAE Conference, which will take place in the Grand Resort of Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece, on June 12-17, 2005.

Michael M. Bernitsas