About
Ocean Expert
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OceanExpert Ltd is an independent Metocean consultancy founded in 2009 by Ian Leggett following his career with Shell for 31 years. The company provides a range of services to the offshore energy sector, primarily renewables and oil & gas.
Ian’s expertise and experience has been used to help over 35 companies and organisations with their Metocean needs and requirements.
Ian Leggett is recognised as one of the leading international experts in the field of applied meteorology and oceanography (‘Metocean’), with over 40 years of experience in the offshore oil & gas sector, and over 25 years in the offshore renewables sector.
He was presented with the prestigious Energy Institute ‘Outstanding Individual Achievement Award’ in 2008 for his pioneering work in developing and implementing METNET, which contributed to improved safety and planning of offshore operations.
He was also awarded chartered status and a fellowship by the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST). He has served on the IMarEST Technical Leadership Board for many years helping to steer and innovate the technical development of the Institute.
Following his early retirement from Shell in 2009, he relocated to Edinburgh, and set up OceanExpert Ltd.

Some key milestones and activities during his time with Shell include:
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- Provision of weather forecasts
- Measured data collection and hindcast modelling activities
- Analytical studies to derive operational statistics (weather downtime) and extreme conditions (100yr design criteria) for a wide range of offshore installations
- Provision of expert advice
- Being an invited member of the two UK Department of Energy (DEn) Steering Groups that revised the Guidance Notes for the Design of Offshore Installations
- Playing lead roles in joint industry projects in the UK, Faroes and Ireland that improved the knowledge and understanding of Metocean conditions in these areas
- Setting up a Metocean department in Brunei
- Being part of the team that delivered the first UK offshore wind farm at Blyth
- Pioneering web-based delivery of weather forecasts
- Developing and implementing an offshore real-time network of Metocean stations (METNET) on Shell manned installations
- Pioneering the use of joint probability techniques to improve the design and reduce costs of offshore structures
- Co-authoring numerous published papers
- Being a member of the panel updating the Metocean standard ISO 19901-1
"Ian’s professionalism, coupled to his unrivalled knowledge of his technical field, brought significant dividends to our project and provided us with both added reassurance and added value which our Client recognised”
OceanExpert. Over 40 years of experience in the offshore Oil & Gas sector, and over 25 years in the Offshore Renewables sector.
Examples of OceanExpert Ltd's support for Offshore Renewables
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Independent review of Metocean report for Islay/Kintyre.

Independent review of Metocean report for Dogger Bank wind farm.

Independent review of Metocean report for Galloper wind farm including liaison with certifying authority.

Independent review of Metocean activities and reports for the Humber Carbon Capture & Storage project.

Independent support and review for BOWL (Moray Firth) wind farm Metocean activities and reports including liaison with certifying authority.

Independent Metocean review and support for Blyth Demonstrator project.

Metocean guidance, strategy and independent review of data and reports for the offshore Firth of Forth wind farm.

Independent Metocean review and support for Blyth floating wind farm project.

Independent Metocean guidance and support in connection with electricity cables to Scottish islands.