In a world increasingly shaped by climate uncertainty and geopolitical volatility, understanding the ocean — Earth’s largest and least explored environment — is no longer a scientific luxury; it’s a global imperative. At the helm of one of the world’s premier marine research institutions is John Siddorn, Chief Executive, National Oceanography Centre (NOC), who discussed with Marine Technology Reporter from his office overlooking the Port of Southampton, the people, the priorities and the assets of NOC to effectively, efficiently and safely explore the world’s oceans.

Appointed CEO in 2023, John Siddorn brings more than three decades of expertise in ocean physics and climate modeling to the role. His leadership marks a strategic shift for NOC as it expands its role beyond academic research to become a pivotal partner for government, industry and society in the blue economy.

NOC: A Leader in Ocean Study

The NOC we know it today dates back to precursor institutions, each with long histories. As a national institution, it was formed in 1949 as the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). NIO grew from the work of scientists working at Antarctic whaling stations and the complimentary voyages of Captain Scott’s Discovery and a small group of young scientists brought together during the war, to study how the movements of the waves affected amphibious landings.

NOC’s operations based in Liverpool stem from the Liverpool Observatory founded in 1843 (to measure the longitude of Liverpool and to measure tides). After a short period based in Liverpool it moved to Bidston and in 1919 became the Liverpool Tidal Institute. It led development of the methods of tidal prediction used world-wide today. It broadened its research over the years into prediction of storm surges and then sea level science more generally, as well as coastal and continental shelf sea oceanography and marine data management.

In 1965 both the NIO and the Liverpool Tidal Institute became part of the then newly-formed Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Both were brought together to form NERC’s Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) in the 1970s. Both former parts of IOS came back together in 2010 as part of NERC’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

Today, NOC is based in Southampton and Liverpool and has quickly become one of the most advanced centers for integrated oceanographic research and engineering worldwide. With a staff of more than 600 and assets ranging from deep-sea research vessels to fleets of autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, NOC serves as the UK’s principal marine science body.

For Siddorn, who began his career as a physical oceanographer in the 1990s and spent significant time at the UK Met Office developing coupled ocean-atmosphere models, the role at NOC is the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to understanding Earth systems.

“This is the best job in the world,” Siddorn says. “What attracted me most is NOC’s ability to unite cutting-edge engineering, advanced science, and real-world societal impact under one roof.”

“NOC is unusual in the sense that it does such a wide range of things in terms of the science it does, but it also does a really wide range of the engineering and the development of the underpinning capabilities that support that science. So, everything exists in this building in the sense that we have the ships to collect the observations. We also have cutting-edge novel technologies around the autonomy and those ships and autonomy coming together with the fixed-point moorings give us very big part of the picture of what the ocean’s doing.”

That convergence of capability is what gives NOC its edge. From seabed sensors to satellite-linked gliders, from autonomous platforms to full-scale research ships, NOC delivers the data and insights that shape ocean policy, climate adaptation, and sustainable marine development.

The Backbone of Ocean Intelligence

NOC operates two major research vessels, the RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook, both central to the UK’s national marine science infrastructure. These vessels are not just floating laboratories — they are foundational tools for understanding everything from volcanic seabed activity to carbon cycling in the open ocean.

“Our ships are capital-intensive, but they remain irreplaceable,” Siddorn said. “Autonomous platforms are advancing fast, but ships still provide the necessary human and technical capacity for complex, remote missions.”

One recent voyage in the Mediterranean, for example, focused on seismic activity and gravity waves within an underwater volcanic caldera. Such missions are crucial for monitoring geohazards that threaten subsea infrastructure, including the world’s expanding network of critical data cables. Another expedition in the mid-Atlantic examined the mechanisms by which carbon is sequestered into the deep ocean—a key process in understanding and mitigating global climate change.

“These are not academic exercises,” Siddorn notes. “They underpin our understanding of global systems that affect fisheries, weather patterns, climate policy and international security.”

While air, ocean surface and subsurface autonomous vehicles tend to grab the headlines, Siddorn is resolute in his belief that ships have, and will continue to have for many years, a central role in studying the oceans.

“Ships are presently the only way we can get out into the deep ocean in a consistent way, carrying large payloads. There are some elements of autonomy now that are moving in that direction, but largely, they work in synergy rather than separately. You can use your ships to transport autonomy. And the way I see it in the future being the growth of this activity is that you’ll have ships and autonomy scaling up where perhaps ships aren’t necessary to do all of the heavy lifting in terms of gathering the data, but they are doing a lot of heavy lifting in terms of getting kit into the right place,” said Siddorn. “You can’t do novel engineering at 4,000 meters on a submersible. You can do it 10,000 miles away from a coastline on a ship with people on board testing things, checking to ensure things are working. So, you need the ships to progress science even where autonomy is a partner in that.”

The Rise of Autonomy

While ships remain vital, NOC is leading the transition toward more scalable, cost-effective, and carbon-efficient methods of ocean observation.

The Future of Ocean Science: A Visionary Perspective from NOC

At the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the future of ocean science is being shaped by a visionary leader, John Siddorn. As the CEO of NOC, Siddorn is spearheading groundbreaking initiatives that are revolutionizing how we understand and protect the marine environment.

Diverse Fleet of Autonomous Platforms

NOC boasts one of the most diverse fleets of autonomous platforms in the world, including subsea gliders, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and unmanned surface vessels. Siddorn views autonomy not as a replacement for traditional research infrastructure, but as a powerful force multiplier.

“Autonomy is at an inflection point,” Siddorn explains. “This technology is absolutely key to monitoring at scale, enabling us to conduct eDNA sampling and real-time chemistry from these platforms, which was unthinkable just five years ago.”

Scaling Autonomy for the Future

With the advent of autonomy, the challenge of scale emerges. Siddorn envisions a future where NOC’s ships serve as motherships for fleets of autonomous vehicles, deploying and retrieving them for operations spanning thousands of miles and months at sea.

“There’s a shift towards persistent, scalable monitoring systems,” Siddorn emphasizes. “To meet the demands of the blue economy and climate observation, intelligent, distributed observation networks are essential.”

Digitalization and Advanced Computing

Alongside autonomy, digitalization plays a transformative role in ocean science. Advanced computing technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital twins of ocean basins, allow scientists to visualize the ocean in real-time and predict future changes with unprecedented accuracy.

As the Associate Director of Digital Ocean at NOC, Siddorn champions the integration of digital approaches into scientific research. By creating a global-scale, near-real-time digital replica of the ocean, NOC can track carbon, forecast extreme weather, and assess offshore infrastructure risk effectively.

Science for Society & Industry

While NOC has historically focused on serving public research and government needs, Siddorn recognizes the increasing role that industry plays in sustainable ocean stewardship. By forging partnerships with commercial sectors, NOC offers data services, autonomous platforms, and scientific expertise to help industries operate responsibly and reduce their environmental impact.

“Our science can help maritime operators understand their carbon footprint, plan cable routes safely, and monitor biodiversity at offshore installations,” Siddorn highlights. “There’s immense value in bringing our expertise to industry.”

Challenges Ahead and Forward-Looking Priorities

Despite the impressive assets and capabilities at NOC, Siddorn acknowledges the challenges ahead, including decarbonization, funding constraints, and aligning long-term scientific goals with operational demands. His top priority is ensuring that NOC remains forward-looking.

“Our mission is to ask and answer the most critical questions about climate, hazards, food security, and biodiversity,” Siddorn asserts. “That requires investing in tomorrow’s solutions, not just today’s tools.”

Shaping the Future of Ocean Science

Under Siddorn’s leadership, NOC is embracing diversity, investing in training and analytics, and playing a pivotal role in global initiatives like the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Siddorn’s vision is to ensure that the ocean is understood and protected for future generations.

“Our job is to ensure the ocean is protected and sustained for our children and grandchildren,” Siddorn concludes. “We must look ahead and make decisions today that will safeguard the marine environment for tomorrow.”

For more insights from John Siddorn and other stories, stay tuned to Marine Technology TV.