Gardline deep water environmental

Katie Cross, business manager, Gardline Environmental Ltd, commented: “We were delighted to be involved with BP collecting marine Environmental data in what is a scientifically unknown area using equipment which is at the forefront of marine environmental research.”

The firm was originally sub-contracted the work through WAW International at the end of 2013. Gardline’s survey vessel, the M/V Ocean Observer, mobilised in Malta just before Christmas 2013 in order to complete a 25 day environmental survey programme and MetOcean string deployment.

Work included the use of a variety of environmental sampling tools including the ROBIO lander, provided by Oceanlab Aberdeen, in water depths ranging between 600 and 2,200m.

The aim of the survey was to establish a detailed understanding of the water column and surface seabed sediments, to investigate the biodiversity of the area and establish environmental baseline conditions.

Time lapse images were taken on the sea bed over 24 hours by the ROBIO lander at a number of locations across the survey area.

Also, spot point seabed imagery was acquired using Gardline’s deep water drop down camera system which collected approximately 10,000 images during the programme.

Discrete water samples and detailed water column profiles were also taken using a multi-parameter CTD and 12 bottle rosette water sampler. Sediment samples were gathered by means of a megacorer for subsequent meiofaunal and physiochemical analysis.

Unfortunately, the survey was hit with poor weather so took longer than expected, but Gardline was able to complete the work safely within 45 days.

With data acquisition now complete, Gardline has begun the complex and detailed task of interpreting and analysing all of the data acquired.

The MetOcean investigation will continue for a year in total and consists of two oceanographic strings which have been deployed at two discrete locations within the deep water survey area. The strings will profile the currents through the entire water column and help to reinforce the current oceanographic models used for the area.

Gardline Environmental Limited (GEL) is a leading marine specialist, offering a unique survey capability that combines the acquisition of physical, chemical and biological data in one survey. The capability draws on the Gardline Groups considerable experience in marine geophysics, hydrography, digital mapping, underwater engineering, oceanography, positioning and its dedicated fleet of survey vessels to provide a fully integrated survey capability.