Green Marine UK Deploys Cutting-Edge Underwater Gliders in the North Sea

Green Marine UK has recently launched a series of state-of-the-art underwater gliders in the North Sea as part of a groundbreaking data collection project led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Met Office.

These specialized gliders will operate for 6-month intervals, surveying ocean depths of up to 200 meters over a three-year period. The primary goal of the project is to significantly enhance the collection and distribution of data that are essential for both weather and ocean forecasts, particularly for vessels navigating in the region.

The gliders will gather a variety of measurements, including salinity and temperature, and transmit this data to the Met Office in near real-time. This initiative is part of a broader program aimed at increasing the volume of observational data fed into a new supercomputer, thereby supporting ongoing efforts by the Met Office to enhance forecast accuracy.

Myles Metson, Operations & Technology Director at Green Marine UK, expressed excitement about the collaboration with NOC on this innovative project. Green Marine has successfully deployed five gliders this year, building on their previous partnership with NOC that dates back to 2022. The deployment and recovery of the gliders, which takes approximately 24 hours, are meticulously planned within a one-week timeframe.

Green Marine’s involvement in this project adds to their portfolio of managing ocean monitoring devices, including work with Blueocean Tech Systems. The company’s vessels, Green Quest and Green Isle, have been instrumental in deploying and recovering six specialized underwater gliders along the West Coast of Scotland.

The recent contracts with NOC coincide with their announcement of securing £41.4 million in funding, part of a larger £101 million investment from NERC’s National Capability Single Centre Science and National Public Good initiatives. This funding will support research on various environmental aspects, driving innovations crucial for climate resilience, natural resource management, and national security.

Stephen Woodward, Engineering Manager at NOC, highlighted the center’s expertise in providing cutting-edge technology, such as the advanced gliders, to institutions like the Met Office. These gliders can operate autonomously for extended periods, collecting vital information about ocean conditions. The project’s focus on enhancing ocean circulation understanding and data collection capabilities will inform future ocean modeling and weather forecasting, benefiting vital UK services like search and rescue, pollution control, and marine biodiversity conservation.

Overall, the collaboration between Green Marine UK, NOC, and the Met Office signifies a significant advancement in leveraging innovative technology for enhancing marine data collection and forecasting capabilities in the North Sea.