Industry Events Calendar

Where can you catch up with the Seiche team across the globe? We have the following events on our schedule for 2024 – are you attending any of them? If so, we would love to see you!

2024
12 – 14 MarchOceanology International, London. Stand Q501
22 – 25 AprilIPF 2024, New Orleans – UK Pavilion
18- 10 JuneGlobal Offshore Wind, Manchester
26 – 27 JuneOcean Tech Expo, Plymouth
9 – 10 OctoberFloating Offshore Wind, Aberdeen

Drift Buoys Improve Underwater Noise Monitoring

The winter issue of Environment, Coastal and Offshore Magazine (ECO) highlights an article about our data loggers and drift buoys and how they were utilised to measure underwater noise on tidal turbines. This study aimed to identify the possible impact of such noise on marine life near the coast of Shetland.

Don’t miss the opportunity to read the article on page 18/19 by clicking on the following link:http://digital.ecomagazine.com/eco-winter-2023/page-18

Addressing Climate Change

By Mark Burnett , Director – Special Operations at Seiche Group

Climate change poses a significant threat to our world, with rising sea levels, increased natural disasters, and disrupted ecosystems. To combat this global challenge, we must understand the changes occurring in our oceans. This is where the remarkable AutoNaut Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) comes into play. In this article published by Petroc, Mark Burnett discusses the revolutionary technology in more detail.

Click here to read the full article

Plymouth Marine Laboratory raise the roof with Seiche’s remote monitoring AI camera.

As part of their ongoing work to expand AI monitoring capabilities, Plymouth Marine Laboratory are testing the capabilities of our dual camera system on the roof of their laboratory looking out over the Plymouth Sound.

Focusing on the long-range detection of boats, birds and marine life, our thermal imaging and high definition camera complements PML’s current remote monitoring technology, with further trials in the pipeline. 

We look forward to the findings of the observation!

Your Eyes on the Ocean – Smart Visual Detection System

Embark on a Groundbreaking Journey: Introducing our First Trained Model on Whale Blows for our Gen2 camera, including Southern Right Whales.

Click on this video link for a valuable insight into our powerful camera: https://youtu.be/CtlAeIgdxdo

About Smart Visual Detection System:

  • Equipped with a dual camera setup, SVDS captures high-definition video and infrared imagery, ensuring 24 hour surveillance of the waters surrounding your vessel.
  • Designed with robustness and compactness in mind, SVDS is easy to ship, install and perfect for maritime use.
  • The system features impressive computing power more powerful than previous generations.
  • With powerful on-board processing and storage, SVDS enables real-time automated detection.
  • Our advanced pan and tilt system allows for user-configurable automatic scanning of an area up to 360 degrees, giving you comprehensive coverage.
  • SVDS builds on decades of experience in visual and underwater acoustic maritime monitoring, merging it with state-of-the-art technology originally found in self-driving vehicles.

For more information, download our datasheet or contact our team.

Opening – Smart Sound Plymouth

Great to be at the official opening of the Smart Sound Plymouth, Connect Control Centre at Oceansgate Limited, this morning with MBTC, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Plymouth, University of Exeter, and The Marine Biological Association.

Smart Sound Plymouth is Britain’s premier proving area for designing, testing and developing cutting edge products and services for the marine sector, and is ideally suited for building and supporting the next generation of advanced marine technologies.

Co-ordinated through the Marine Business Technology Centre, Smart Sound Plymouth is a partnership between five organisations boasting considerable expertise in autonomous systems, environmental sensor technologies, alternative propulsion, advanced manufacturing and cyber security.

Field Trials – Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Thanks to Plymouth Marine Laboratory, in particular to Jani Pewter and Dr James Fishwick, for supporting field trials of our new camera systems. Taking the tech to the roof of PML, the Penlee data observatory and Rame Head.

They are hoping to trial this further on their research vessel The Quest. Stay tuned!

Rob Lee joins the team as Lead Marine Acoustician

We’re delighted to welcome Rob Lee to the team as Lead Marine Acoustician, following our growth in underwater acoustic modelling and monitoring and in particular the demand we’re seeing due to the offshore renewables market. With 11 years’ experience in underwater acoustics, Rob has a great depth of knowledge in both software and hardware development and their deployment at sea.
 
Rob will be instrumental in the development of new technology to keep ahead of the curve in meeting and exceeding our clients’ needs within the ever-evolving underwater noise market.
 
Rob comments: “I am incredibly excited to be joining Seiche, a company that I’ve long admired. I look forward to bringing all the skills I’ve acquired over the years to an organisation that is devoted to the understanding and protection of the underwater soundscape.”
 
Simon Stephenson, Senior Marine Acoustician at Seiche said: “It is fantastic to see our team expanding and we are thrilled to welcome Rob to the team. Not only does he bring fantastic experience with him, but his skills will help us develop industry-leading and innovative solutions for the offshore renewables market.”
 
Welcome to the team Rob, great to have you on board!

Collaboration with Jan De Nul Group to test automated marine mammal detection during offshore activities

Seiche Ltd is collaborating with Jan De Nul Group to start a two-month pilot project to test the A.I capacity and visual reach of Seiche’s new second-generation HD thermal cameras on board the vessel Adhémar de Saint-Venant, currently working in the Netherlands.

The aim of the collaboration is to re-invent the detection and protection of marine mammals in the dredging and offshore construction business on projects worldwide and is a first step towards the fully automated detection of marine mammals, thereby setting a new standard to increase the level of protection of marine mammals and to reduce safety risks, costs and impact upon the environment.

As a global leader in passive acoustic monitoring technology and marine mitigation, this trial will allow Seiche to collect the necessary data for testing and fine-tuning the A.I. capacity of the automated detection function and the visual distances these cameras can cover.

The project was initiated by four employees of Jan De Nul, as part of their internal innovation challenge and proposed using this innovative technology during marine offshore operations. A team from Jan De Nul and Seiche travelled to Rotterdam to install the detection system on board. The combined visual and thermal cameras, secured to high points on the vessel for an increased visual reach, will be fully tested over the coming two months.

Nicola Harris, Associate Director of Environmental Services at Seiche Ltd commented: “We are really excited to be working with Jan De Nul on the testing phase of our new camera systems – allowing us to really showcase the enhanced capabilities of the new devices. It is really great to see construction companies like Jan De Nul showing an active interest in developing such key tools for protecting the environment.”

Inge Van Tomme, Director of the KPI Department at Jan De Nul Group: “The idea of automated mammal detection originated from an internal JDN Innovation Challenge. We chose this competition entry as the outright winner, out of many other viable ideas. By joining forces with a well experienced technology solution partner as Seiche Ltd., we are convinced that we can re-invent the way of detecting and protecting marine mammals for the whole dredging and offshore construction business on projects worldwide.”

Seiche Ltd works with Ørsted during construction of its Hornsea Two offshore wind farm

As well-respected specialists in the field of marine mammal monitoring and mitigation measures, Seiche Ltd was engaged by Ørsted earlier this year to minimise the impact on marine mammals during construction of its Hornsea Two wind farm, located 89km off the UK’s North East coast. This was a key requirement of the wind farm’s marine licence conditions.

Marine Mammal Observers worked from the installation vessel to ensure that marine mammals were protected during the installation of the Offshore Substation (OSS), Reactive Compensation Station (RCS) (September to October 2020) and the Wind Turbine Generators (WTG’s) (October 2020 – October 2021). To achieve this, Seiche provided an Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD) and marine mammal observers / ADD operators. Extensive reporting was carried out throughout the project.

Project Manager at Seiche, Jennifer Shearing comments:  “It was exciting working with Ørsted on such an important and well-organised project. Ørsted’s enthusiasm towards protecting the marine environment was a pleasure to see. The project was such a success, it finished ahead of time, and Seiche is thankful to the fantastic marine mammal mitigation team we had in the field. Their commitment and hard work ensured the project ran smoothly. Communications with DEME, the installation contractor, were excellent, resulting in efficient, well organised crew changes.”

Jennifer Brack, Consent Manager for Ørsted’s Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm said: “As experts in their field, Seiche were a pleasure to work with. Their work was well-organised, well-communicated, and fulfilled all our requirements in terms of protecting mammals in the marine environment while construction took place”. 

About Hornsea Two:

Located approximately 89 km off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea Two is the world’s largest offshore wind farm and will generate up to 1.4GW of clean energy for UK households when fully operational in 2022.  

Image: © Steven Atkinson, Lead Marine Mammal Consultant, 2021