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Leading corporations from oil and gas, shipping, fisheries, marine science, ocean technology and other sectors have committed sponsorship support for the second Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) organized by the World Ocean Council (WOC).

Initial SOS 2013 sponsors include BP, Total, Battelle Memorial Institute, Heidmar Shipping, Louisbourg Seafoods, and SubCtech.

Paul Holthus, WOC Executive Director, stated that the inaugural SOS 2013 sponsors "reflect the diversity of the ocean business community that will convene at SOS 2013 and we appreciate their generosity and leadership."

Here’s what some sponsors are saying about the event:

"Total welcomes the Sustainable Ocean Summit as a unique opportunity to foster the science-based, collaborative approach needed to develop a better understanding of marine ecosystems, especially in areas of deep sea oil and gas operations, and to support the development of innovative practices and solutions in partnership with leadership companies from other ocean industries."
--Patricia Mani, Director of Sustainable Development and Environment, Total

"As a WOC Founding Member, Heidmar is pleased to participate and support the upcoming SOS in Washington, DC. We believe that this cross-sectoral forum is an excellent chance for shipping to shape industry-led solutions to marine environmental issues that affect us all."
--Marc La Monte, President and CEO, Heidmar, Inc.

"As the world’s largest nonprofit research and development organization committed to science and technology for the greater good, Battelle Memorial Institute is proud to support the WOC’s 2013 Sustainable Ocean Summit and the Oceans 2050 workshop. We look forward to our contribution catalyzing ocean industry stakeholders in the development of solutions to the challenge of ocean sustainability."
--Leslie-Ann McGee, Environmental Solutions group, Battelle Memorial Institute.

"Advances in marine technology are creating innovative opportunities for diverse industries to collaborate through the WOC to develop cost-effective solutions for monitoring the marine environment and addressing the ocean sustainability challenges that will be the focus of the Sustainable Ocean Summit."
--Stefan Marx, Managing Director, SubCtech (Manufacturer of measurement systems to monitor water quality and oceanographic parameters for a variety of industries)

About the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS)

The SOS is an international ocean business community gathering dedicated to industry leadership and collaboration in developing solutions to ocean sustainability challenges. The theme of SOS 2013 is “Oceans 2050 - the ocean business community vision for sustainable seas”, a process that will continue beyond the summit through WOC themes and working groups.

SOS 2013 is designed to attract the diverse range of ocean industries: shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewable energy, ports, dredging, mining, cables and pipelines, marine science, engineering and technology, the maritime legal, financial and insurance communities, and others - as well as ocean stakeholders from the government, inter-governmental, academic and environment communities.