In offshore windfarms it is not allowed to scuba-dive, and commercial diving operations are often too costly to be included in ecological research studies. Therefore, Wageningen Marine Research and Bluestream Offshore b.v. have been developing a robotic sampler tool (marine growth sampling tool) that can replace a diver. The tool is a robot arm that can be mounted on small remotely operated vehicles (ROV) that are regularly applied by the wind farm owners for inspection of their wind turbine foundations. The proof-of-concept of the tool has been tested in a field lab setting offshore on a wind turbine foundation in Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm (Vattenfall) in November 2023. The test was successful but additional testing and design changes are needed to make the tool capable of sampling various types of fouling species at different types of offshore structures. Furthermore, the quality in comparison to diver-acquired samples (the previous sampling method) needs to be evaluated to allow comparisons to existing datasets. Since the tool is not capable to sampling from scour protection layers, there is a need to develop an additional tool capable of collecting small rocks from the seabed.
This project therefore aims to:
1) Further develop the marine growth sampling (MGS) tool for other types of marine growth (thick mussel growth in shallow waters) and installations (e.g. Tennet transformator stations).
2) Compare sample quality between marine growth sampling tool and diver acquired samples.
3) Develop a scour protection sampling tool (SPS) and test this at different types of scour protections.

The aim of this project is to test and further develop ROV mounted sampling tools. To attain this, the project has the following objectives:
1) Test the developed marine growth sampling (MGS) tool in a field lab setting on other types of marine growth and installations.
2) Compare sample quality between MGS-tool and diver acquired samples.
3) Develop a scour protection sampling (SPS) tool and test this at different types of scour protections.

The project contributes to mission 5 ‘The sustainable and safe use of the North Sea and large bodies of water’ with a clear link to program 5A ‘Sustainable use of the North Sea and Oceans’ as well as an indirect link with 5D ‘sustainable blue economy’. For 5A it contributes to the KIA portfolio by developing innovative techniques to study ecological effects in a manner which is currently not possible. This can be considered a disruptive technological innovation as it will break the pattern of standard methods to acquire samples with divers or solve the problem that no samples can be taken if diver sampling is not possible. This will create a new market for ROV-acquired samples which does not exist now. This adds to the KIA portfolio by increasing the understanding of the ecological impacts (including nature positive effects) of offshore renewable energy. For program 5D the project will develop tools and methods that can likely also be used to study ecosystem effects of innovative renewable energy systems which are developed in the future.

WP1 will deliver an improved model of the tool, capable of collecting samples of the marine growth communities most likely encountered on OWF turbine foundations in the southern North Sea.

WP2 will deliver a peer reviewed paper published in a reputable scientific journal such as ICES Journal of Marine Science or Journal of Sea Research.

WP3 will deliver an SPS-tool to be used in studies at offshore energy structures.