We were commissioned to conduct a benthic characterisation survey for the proposed Morecambe Offshore Wind Farm (OWF), located in the north-eastern Irish Sea approximately 20 nautical miles east of Blackpool. This project contributes to the UK’s renewable energy ambitions with an expected nominal capacity of 480 MW.
Scope of work
The survey aimed to provide accurate ground-truthing for geophysical data and establish a comprehensive environmental baseline for future monitoring. A total of 50 stations were sampled, with samples analysed for particle size distribution, macrobenthic communities, and contaminants at a subset of locations. Drop-down camera (DDC) imagery was collected at each grab station to visually assess seabed habitats, complemented by four DDC transects conducted across the site to ground-truth geophysical data and identify features of interest. All sampling was carried out aboard our dedicated MCA category 2 coded survey vessel Seren Las, ensuring efficient and high-quality data collection.
Impact
The results of this survey provide a critical baseline for monitoring sediment characteristics, macrobenthic communities, and seabed physico-chemical properties. This baseline will support long-term environmental management and help inform the sustainable development of the Morecambe OWF.
