Submarine Committee

The mission of the Submarine Professional Committee is to:

• Promote the development and use of manned underwater vehicles in commercial and scientific activity;
• Disseminate technical knowledge-based resources for the community;
• Cooperate with other professional and technical societies and government rule-making agencies to promote simplicity, reliability and safety in the, design, development, manufacture and use of manned submersibles and related underwater equipment and to do so without inhibiting innovation and creativity.

Upcoming Events

The MTS Submarine Committee and the World Submarine Organization (WSO), in partnership with the Submersible Operators Group (SOG), proudly present the 22nd Annual Submarine Symposium, set to take place at the Spanish Oceanographic Institute in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. This year marks a significant milestone, as the symposium moves to an international stage for the first time, aligning with a long-term vision to rotate the event between America, Europe, and Asia.

This four-day event will bring together leading experts, industry stakeholders, regulators, and innovators to discuss advancements in submarine technology, safety regulations, and operational best practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights through technical presentations, collaborative discussions, and networking opportunities with professionals from across the globe.

Date: October 7-10, 2025 
Location: Spanish Oceanographic Institute, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain
Call for Papers: Deadline to Submit is August 15, 2025

Click here to learn more!

Leadership

William Kohnen | President and CEO, Hydrospace

Mr William Kohnen is President/CEO of Hydrospace Group which provides expert knowledge in pressure vessels and underwater vehicle systems. With 25 years experience in space and subsea engineering, the expertise extends to pressure applications in medical, commercial and naval subsea vehicles as well as nuclear containment systems. Hydrospace offers a full array of engineering analysis capabilities, integrated project management, design and fabrication solutions and testing for manned and unmanned systems, sub-systems and components. Mr. Kohnen is also co-founder of SEAmagine Hydrospace Corp. which specializes in the design and construction of manned submersibles. 

Mr. Kohnen has a background in aerospace with a B.Eng and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering from McGill University, Canada. Mr. Kohnen has a broad range of field operations planning and management expertise with manned submersibles coupled with an extensive technical knowledge of critical sub-systems including Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy, high reliability power & propulsion, life support, launch & recovery and emergency systems for certification with ABS, US Coast Guard and Cayman Islands Shipping Registry. His extensive field experience includes operations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, US Pacific Coast, Central America and Australia. Mr. Kohnen has been chair of the Marine Technology Society Manned Underwater Vehicles Committee since 2003 and organizes the yearly MTS MUV program at the Underwater Intervention conference to cover the many issues regarding the manned submersible industry.

Mr. Kohnen is an active member of the ASME Pressure Vessel for Human Occupancy (PVHO) Committee and of the Deep Submersible Pilot Association. He is also engaged as an industry representative on the ALVIN Replacement HOV Oversight Committee (RHOC) and is a member of the ABS Special Committee on Underwater Systems and Vehicles.