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by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Saturday, 30 May 2009
zoomMick O’Conchubair is the CEO of World Five Centres. He has been involved in Europe’s largest diving operation, Maltaqua, and has worked on diving operations for one of the UK’s largest diver training agencies Freya Diving. He graduated in medicine and has extensive experience in the technology management sector.
Novacem, on the other hand, actually absorbs carbon during the hardening process. Over its lifespan, it is not just carbon neutral – it is carbon negative.
The green ambitions of the MCPR project add up. “Eventually we would like to see the joining up of multiple conservation parks across each of the city states of the UAE. It’s about the whole of the UAE, conservation and preservation,” O’Conchubair says.
In terms of construction costs, World Dive Centres hope the development will be cost effective. A cost will be determined during the feasibility study.
The team has a UK-based dive-themed leisure project making progress, that it has partnered on with contracting giant Laing O’Rourke. Project manager Davis Langdon has also played a role, as has architect Make.
Beavis remains tight lipped as to the UAE project backers, as contracts are yet to be signed, but did confirm that all but one are UAE-based. So in an environment where cash is king, what does the MCPR promise that other pipeline developments cannot?
“Organisations are ready to get involved in projects that are going to carry a meaning beyond the commercial one,” says Mena managing director Arnaud Palu.
“This project is coming at a time when it’s very important to define yourself as a commercially viable operation.”
The MCPR is being undertaken for the right reasons. “It’s not just some wacky idea that has been put down on a piece of paper,” Beavis assures us. All that remains is for the team to prove it.
How to – the resort
Construction
Will be modular, made up of separate sections built on land that can be combined or interchanged at sea. The superstructure will be supported by a 400m mast.
Buoyancy
Based on oil platform technology. “We have based the design around concrete hold technology that has been used in the North Sea for 30-40 years,” World Dive Centres CEO Mick O’Conchubair says.
Materials
Novacem carbon-negative cement will be used in the structure. The skin will be a lightweight tensile material based on the plastic used on the UK’s Eden Project and China’s National Aquatics Centre. Known as ETFE, it is a fluorocarbon-based polymer designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range.
Power
The team is looking at renewable forms of energy production including biomass conversion, solar, and clean hydropower generated through wave action. “We will have a need to dispose of waste,” O’Conchubair says, “so biomass conversion is a primary thing for us.”
Transit
Visitors will be transported to the island via an underwater maglev rail system. Maglev systems are already operational in China, the UK and most notably Japan. “This will allow 24 hour access, and will cut down on maintenance costs,” O’Conchubair says.
Construction
Will be modular, made up of separate sections built on land that can be combined or interchanged at sea. The superstructure will be supported by a 400m mast.
Buoyancy
Based on oil platform technology. “We have based the design around concrete hold technology that has been used in the North Sea for 30-40 years,” World Dive Centres CEO Mick O’Conchubair says.
Materials
Novacem carbon-negative cement will be used in the structure. The skin will be a lightweight tensile material based on the plastic used on the UK’s Eden Project and China’s National Aquatics Centre. Known as ETFE, it is a fluorocarbon-based polymer designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range.
Power
The team is looking at renewable forms of energy production including biomass conversion, solar, and clean hydropower generated through wave action. “We will have a need to dispose of waste,” O’Conchubair says, “so biomass conversion is a primary thing for us.”
Transit
Visitors will be transported to the island via an underwater maglev rail system. Maglev systems are already operational in China, the UK and most notably Japan. “This will allow 24 hour access, and will cut down on maintenance costs,” O’Conchubair says.
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