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RESEARCHISSUE 16 | 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

MINEWS

PIONEERWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITYMARINE INSTITUTE

BLUE TECHNOLOGY

UAEOcean – Major collaborations with UAE government underway

The Maritime Cyber Treat

Discovery learning with a Virtual Experimental Engine

IN THIS ISSUE

Announcements 24

Climate change conference 29

New E-learning Metocean course launched 30

NEWS

UAEOcean – Major collaborations with UAE government underway 03

3D subsea Camera System Innovation 06

Beach surveys in the lee of Wave Hub inform predictive numerical models 08

The Maritime Cyber Threat Research Group 11

New state of the art equipment to be used on two new EU Horizon 2020 Projects 16

IMO Secretary-General experiences maritime innovation at Plymouth University 21

New Technology to Remotely Detect Subsea Cables 22

RESEARCH

Internationally acclaimed Artist, Sue Austin, work displayed in a three day interactive exhibition 04

EU Horizon 2020 funding success 07

UK company to fund marine science PHDs 17

MI Exhibit at NAVDEX an International Defence Exhibition in the Middle East 20

Grant success 28

VOLTA, Polygen Ltd Wave Energy Converter is Tested at COAST Lab 13

SEARASER wave energy device 13

NautiBoy Marine work with COAST Lab 14

Ensign Boats Broaden links 15

SUCCESS

CASE STUDIES

From a Post Doc’s poster presentation to an invitation to participate in the PEGASO Cruise 18

Discovery learning with a Virtual Experimental Engine 10

REPORTING BACK

INNOVATION

Marine Institute’s Exhibition calandar 26

Pluto webcam 28

UPDATES

29

08

04

13

18

10

27

2 MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015

RESEARCH

The University of Plymouth’s multi-million pound Oceanography project with the United Arab Emirates (UAEOcean) has now moved into its critical second phase.

Earlier this year (September) the project team successfully deployed an Aqualog moored-profiling system in the Arabian Gulf to sample a range of essential environmental parameters as part of the Gulf Reconnaissance and Selective Profiling (GRASP1) mission. GRASP1 is the first of a series of seasonal deployments in the Arabian Gulf to gather an accurate profile of the Arabian Gulf to assist with validation of software modelling.

UAEOcean is a £4m contract research project with the UAE Government, which commenced in November 2014 and is contracted through the University’s commercial trading arm – University of Plymouth Enterprise Limited (UoPEL) – with Naval Advanced Solutions LLC (NAS) in Abu Dhabi. The project is led by Professor Georgy Shapiro in the University’s School of Marine Science and Engineering, who heads-up the Plymouth Ocean Forecasting Centre, and forms part of the Plymouth University Marine Institute’s global offering.

UAEOcean is a 5.5 year project submitted via the Centre of Excellence in Naval Oceanographic Research and Education (CENORE) in the UK. CENORE is a consortium composed of representatives from:

• Royal Navy Command HQ

• University of Plymouth

• UK Met Office

• Britannia Royal Naval College

• UK Hydrographic Office

• Flag Officer Sea Training Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic School

UoPEL has key sub-contractors in the project including the National Oceanographic Centre (Liverpool).

The contract offers a fully integrated solution in operational ocean forecasting and use of ocean data in Naval and Civil environments, supported by a structured package of staff training and development

– the aim being for the UAEOcean centre to be self-sufficient at the end of the project. The overall project will take 66 months to complete and is split into a series of defined milestone deliverable packages.

The first of these milestone deliverables was completed at the end of April this year.

This commercial supply arrangement between the University and the UAE follows the formal cooperation agreement between the UK and UAE announced by the Prime Minister David Cameron and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan on the 6th November 2012 and has high-level ministerial support.

NAVDEX 2015

In recognition of the importance to the UAE of this relationship, which has been carefully fostered over the last 3 years, the University was invited to present the modelling capability developed within the Plymouth Ocean Forecasting Centre, as well as general research capability of the Marine Institute, at NAVDEX (22-26 February 2015). NAVDEX forms part of the landmark International Defence Exhibition, which takes place every second year in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and attracts more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and more than 80,000 visitors from all over the world. The University delegation, which also included Professor Martin Attrill (Director of Marine Institute) and Ian McFadzen (University’s Marine Commercial Director), accompanied by David Wilson from the UK Met Office, were invited to share a stand with NAS. The delegation was also invited to the reception at the UK Embassy in UAE.

Commenting on the University’s success with the UAEOcean project, Project Manager Paul Tiltman adds: “The last three years have been all about relationship building with colleagues in the UAE and gaining their trust – this has been very important, and these things take time to establish. The University now has a very important and strategic foot-hold in the middle-east, and we have already seen requests for further work coming our way”.

UAEOcean – Major collaborations with UAE government underway

www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine

MI NEWS Issue 15 | 2014 3

SUCCESS

Marine Institute Artist in Residence, Sue Austin, work displayed in a three day interactive exhibition



A showcase of striking works by Plymouth University graduate Sue Austin went on display for three days of interactive activities.The internationally acclaimed artist – whose work has been seen by an estimated global television audience of around 150 million – invited audiences to become ‘Immersed in 360’.

Designed as a research exhibition – the event took place in the University’s Roland Levinsky Building from July 15-17 – it featured video footage of dance and performance by Sue and Kevin Clifford, using Oculus VR headsets and projection onto stunning, ethereal 360 degree installations to create a fully immersive audience experience.

The activities are part of 360 Degrees – A New Angle on Access, a project launched in October last year thanks to a grant from the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts.

It is being pursued in partnership with Plymouth University, Eye Mirror and Living Options Devon and will use digital technology to take art into community venues, and even people’s homes.

Sue, who initially came to Plymouth University to study on the BA (Hons) Fine Art course, said:

“I’m completely passionate about 360 imagery because it’s a new aesthetic, it’s

very powerful. But I also realise that the costs make it inaccessible to most, so this project is specifically about developing 360 in a way that’s usable and affordable for the arts sector and beyond.”

‘Immersed in 360’ was an exhibition of prototypes which also researched the experiences of home and community-based audiences currently excluded from accessing arts venues due to disabling physical, psychological and financial barriers.

After her undergraduate studies, Sue completed a masters degree in contemporary art practice in 2014, having earned widespread international acclaim for her inspirational project ‘Creating the Spectacle’!

Premiered as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and supported by an Unlimited Commission, the project saw her working with the University and Arts Council England to develop a powered wheelchair which she then used in eye-catching underwater performances.

Since then, Sue has travelled the globe to talk about her work, with invitations to address a TEDx conference in Washington DC and a conference for NASA scientists in Houston, Texas.

She has also become one of the artists in residence at Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, using her creativity in conjunction with world-leading scientists and students to enhance understanding of the marine environment

5

Subsea Camera System

RESEARCH

3D subsea Camera System InnovationIn September 2012 the Business Secretary set out the government’s approach to industrial strategy defining ‘eight great technologies’ that the government would promote with capital investment and technology support. One of the eight great technologies was identified as ‘robotics and autonomous systems’ in which the UK has a strong research and technology base.

Staff represented by Plymouth University’s Marine Institute we also have a strong research and technology base in robotics and autonomous systems, through the work of research centres including Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) group and the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems, who are concerned with the development of autonomous vehicles, and the Marine Physics Research Group and the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC) who are concerned with the development of sensors to use with autonomous and robotic systems.

Offshore and deep-sea research within MBERC is intimately connected to the development of new technology that allows the progression of our science, opening up new research pathways, and we have a history of investing in and developing new marine robotic technology. In 2008 Dr Kerry Howell in collaboration with other MBERC members Martin Attrill and Emma Sheehan, was awarded funding from the South West Regional Development Agency – Capital items (£379 680), to purchase a Seaeye Falcon Deep Rated Remotely Operated Vehicle, as well as funds to develop a new towed video sledge system. The Falcon DR ROV is one of only 2 Falcon DRs in the country and is the most advanced small research ROV in the UK. In 2014 Dr Howell, working with an external small business (SME), developed a new deep-sea video

system (1000m rated) that does not require expensive fibre-optic cabling to receive video signal at the surface. Later that year a further development to the pilot project was funded by a NERC Capital Equipment Bid (£143,060) awarded to Dr Howell, and working with the local SME we are in the process of building a new 3000m rated towed video system that will allow HD video at the surface with no fibre-optic cabling. In addition this funding enhanced the capabilities of the Falcon DR ROV, by enabling it to work at its maximum depth of 1000m.

Building on the success of these developments we are now working to fill technology gaps within the subsea market both in seabed image acquisition and processing, and in physical sampling through developing scientific payloads for commercial AUVs. One of these developments is based around 3D modelling of seabed imagery (photogrammetry). Photogrammetric modelling offers important gains to those working in the subsea environment. It allows an all-round view of an object as well as accurate measurement of sizes. This has potential application to scientific research for example in assessing population structure of sensitive sessile marine species. Individuals can be measured without need for physical retrieval from the seabed. However, the system has more far reaching applications than this, for example in subsea engineering and construction. The ability to measure the size of cracks in a subsea structure, or how one structure is positioned with respect to another, is potentially very useful. We are currently in the early stages of prototype development and hope to have a fully working system by November 2015.

For more details contact: [email protected]


SUCCESS

Dr Emma Sheehan holds a scale model of the Wello device

EU Horizon 2020 funding success

Scientists within Plymouth University’s Marine Institute are to be part of a new €17 million EU Horizon 2020 funded research project that will test a new energy converter at Wave Hub, off the north coast of Cornwall.

The five-year Clean Energy From Ocean Waves (CEFOW) project is being coordinated by Nordic company Fortum and will involve a new design of convertor called ‘The Penguin’ – designed by Finnish firm Wello.

Dr Emma Sheehan, a Research Fellow in the Marine Institute, will lead a team of Plymouth scientists, in conjunction with academics from the University of Exeter, to assess how this device interacts with the marine ecosystem.

Heli Antila, Chief Technology Officer at Fortum, said:

“Wave power may play an important role in the future as an emissions-free energy production form, and that is why Fortum is participating in the research and development efforts. By this project we are expecting to increase our capabilities and skills in the field of wave power. We believe that the funding from the European Commission and the experienced collaboration partners create excellent conditions for making great strides forward in commercialising Wello’s wave power technology. On a global scale, this project is at the vanguard of wave power research.”

The partnership also includes Mojo Maritime Ltd, Wave Hub Limited, Green Marine (UK) Ltd, and Uppsala University.

Dr Sheehan said:

“This is a hugely exciting research and development project, and it’s tremendous recognition once again of the expertise that we have, not just here in Plymouth, but across the South West, that we’re an integral part of the impact study. We will be working with local fishermen during the course of the research, using our flying array to assess how the device interacts with the marine ecosystem.”

Fortum signed a leasing agreement in February 2014 with the Wave Hub test facility to test wave power solutions off the coast of Cornwall in Great Britain. The agreement offers Fortum a new opportunity to trial run full-scale wave power devices in ocean conditions.



Figure 1. Kit Stokes at Perranporth beach on the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) used for the beach surveys. The Real-Time-Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) receiver that provides the topographic measurements can be seen mounted at the front of the ATV. Photography by Erwin Begsma.

RESEARCH

Beach surveys in the lee of Wave Hub inform predictive numerical models


Perranporth Beach

RESEARCH

The Wave Hub facility off the coast of Hayle in West Cornwall (www.wavehub.co.uk) is a marine renewables test site, predominantly designed for trialling wave energy converters prior to commercialisation. When Wave Hub was first proposed in 2006, concerns over the potential effects of extracting wave energy on coastal waves and beach morphology sparked an ongoing monitoring effort by Plymouth University’s Coastal Processes Research Group (www.coastalprocesses.org). Since 2008 this monitoring has included monthly topographic surveys of the popular tourist and surfing beaches of Perranporth and Porthtowan directly in the lee of Wave Hub, to monitor patterns of beach erosion and accretion (Figure 1). Survey data are collected using a real-time kinematic global positioning (RTK GPS) system mounted on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) which allows the full intertidal region of the beaches to be surveyed rapidly at spring low tides. Support from the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) through the University’s Marine Institute has provided vital funding to keep these monthly beach surveys going between funding from other external projects. The resulting multi-year dataset showing how the beaches change under natural wave conditions will be invaluable for comparison with surveys when wave energy devices are deployed at Wave Hub over the coming years.

The beach surveys to date show that Perranporth and Porthtowan, along with other high energy ocean-facing beaches in Cornwall and Devon, sit at a classification boundary where they alternate between being flat and featureless or highly three-dimensional (3D) with pronounced sandbars and rip channels. Such 3D features have profound implications for coastal water-users as they enhance surf-zone hazard, in terms of the potential for rip-related drownings, whilst also improving the quality of surfing waves by increasing length of ride as the breaking waves ‘peel’ round the sandbars. As part of Kit Stokes’ recently completed PhD, the monthly beach survey data were used to show how changes in these 3D features can be predicted from changes in wave steepness; the resulting paper was recently published in the journal Geomorphology (http://bit.ly/1IQJS9T).

Kit found that the change from erosive winter conditions with high steepness waves to accretive summer conditions with low steepness waves drives the growth of the 3D sandbar features during spring each year. These 3D features persist over the summer, enhancing both rip hazard and surfing quality, before

flattening again during the following autumn and winter. Using a predictive model he explored the potential effect of Wave Hub on this pattern of 3D sandbar growth and decay at Perranporth beach. Only an extreme and unrealistic level of wave energy extraction (100% energy capture at Wave Hub) was predicted to have a significant effect on the scale of sandbars and rip channels, and under more realistic scenarios (≤30% energy capture) Wave Hub was predicted to have an insignificant effect on beach morphology of relevance to coastal water-users. Thanks goes to all the Coastal Processes Research Group members who have helped out with the surveys over the years, and thanks to the ongoing support from HEIF and the Marine Institute our monitoring can continue to examine the dynamics of these beaches, providing the world’s longest running dataset of beach morphology in the lee of a wave energy site.

Additional information:

Stokes, C. ‘Coastal Impacts in the Lee of a Wave Energy Site: Waves, Beach Morphology and Water-Users (Wave Hub, Cornwall, UK)’ PhD thesis, Plymouth University, submitted June 2015. PhD supervisors: Dr Emily Beaumont, Professor Paul Russell and Professor Deborah Greaves.

Stokes, C., Davidson, M., & Russell, P. (2015). Observation and Prediction of Three-Dimensional Morphology at a High-Energy Macrotidal Beach. Geomorphology, 243, 1-13.



John SpicerSimon Rundle and Oliver Tills

Marine Biology researchers are working with Thinkology, an Exeter based creative design company, to develop digital ‘discovery learning’ resources. These resources embed high quality video within an experimental framework that enables the user to perform a Virtual Experiment in which they design, perform and interpret the data from their own experiment. This project, which was jointly funded via Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) from the Marine Institute and the University’s Research and Innovation directorate, began with the creation of a pilot resource – www.discoverosmosis.com. This resource is based around discovering the effect of osmosis on the single celled organism Vorticella, via experimental manipulation of salinity. This resource has been used in local schools (KS4 and KS5) and in undergraduate teaching on the Marine

Biology programmes. Furthermore this resource was presented during an interactive workshop session at the European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) conference in 2013 and was well received.

The researchers have, in collaboration with colleagues in Engineering, recently received a Teaching and Learning award from the School of Marine Science and Engineering to continue working with Thinkology on the further development of educational resources. This next phase of development will lead to the creation of a central portal containing both Engineering and Marine Biology themed Virtual Experiments, for use in undergraduate teaching. Furthermore, it will develop the ability for both users and educators to customise the design of experiments, thereby increasing their relevance and applicability to different users and subjects.

Discovery learning with a Virtual Experimental EngineSimon Rundle, Oliver Tills and John Spicer

INNOVATION


RESEARCH

Computers are everywhere. They are in our banks, our cars and even our pockets. On a daily basis, we hear about hacks, breaches, leaks and exploits that result in our systems being compromised or our data stolen. Some of these are highly technical (SQL injection, buffer overflow) and some are based on people being fooled into doing the wrong thing (phishing, misinformation). There are huge amounts of effort and money put into combating these threats.

So what about in the Maritime sector? Our ship and port systems are also increasingly dependent on computers and digital systems. From the inventory systems in docks, through the communication and navigation systems on bridges, to the control systems of the ship’s systems, we see more and more application of computer technology. There have even been studies to show that bridge crews are becoming so used to the convenience and accuracy of such systems that traditional skills are becoming atrophied.

Are these systems vulnerable or are we safe since we are out at sea and not connected to the Internet? Some recent incidents give a clear answer to that question:

• A group of students from Texas showed, that with a suitcase-sized device constructed from common components, they could spoof civilian GPS and directed a superyacht far off course.

• A study of systems used by large shipping companies exposed significant vulnerabilities in most of them. see: http://bit.ly/1NyYHkL

There are a number of areas in which systems may be vulnerable, and thus routes by which exploitation could be achieved. This would include:

• Sensor data: Spoofed to present misinformation or blocked so that data cannot be received

• Data display: Compromised or disabled (e.g. via malware or other vulnerability exploitation)

• Ship control systems (e.g. from power and machinery management through to ballast and propulsion): Compromised or disabled

• Communications: Compromised or disabled

• Bridge crew: Compromised by misinformation, or insider threats.w

To consider this in the context of a worst case scenario, imagine a full oil tanker entering San Francisco, with bad weather reducing visibility (e.g. in the heavy fog to which the area is prone). Now imagine a series of deliberate actions, designed to compromise the ship:

• Compromised navigation data: achieved via GPS spoofing from a van on the shore or from compromised software; Bridge radar compromised by malware introduced by last upgrade, and then monitoring the ship’s position as the trigger for payload activation.

• Compromised communication: via jamming or impersonation of ship to shore radio;

• Compromised crew: Knowledge of bridge operations and protocol is used to ensure that deviation stays withwin bounds of normal operation.

As a result of these interventions, the tanker hits the Golden Gate bridge. While this is clearly a simplified description and still an unlikely scenario, each of the individual components of the attack is not infeasible.

There is a need for research dedicated to the specific issues of the Maritime sector. While it shares some aspects of the terrestrial and airborne infrastructure, the sector is unique. At Plymouth University we have a dedicated group of multidisciplinary specialists studying the threats and mitigations specific to the sector, using our long-standing research and operational expertise in areas such as maritime operations, cyber security and psychology, in an environment of sophisticated simulation technology.

The Maritime Cyber Threat is real and growing and we need to take concerted action to ensure the safety of our shipping infrastructure.

The Maritime Cyber Threat Research Group

Professor Kevin D Jones & Professor Steven Furnell



CASE STUDIES

COAST is a teaching, research and commercial laboratory located within the Marine Building on Plymouth University’s main campus. The large-scale physical modelling capabilities are backed by world-leading research staff, and the laboratory itself has staff dedicated to its operation. Clients include central and local UK Government, the European Commission and international funding agencies, as well as consultants, contractors and developers.

The COAST laboratory maintains an advanced suite of instruments that allows detailed and comprehensive acquisition of data, and facilities include:

Ocean Basin

• A wave basin, 35m long x 15.5m wide, with a raisable floor operable at different depths up to 3m

• 24 flap multidirectional wave makers of 2.0m hinge depth, able to produce monochromatic waves of up to 0.9m in height

• Multi-directional, recirculating current generation, both inline and across the path of the waves

Coastal Basin

• A coastal basin, 15.5 m long x 10 m wide x 0.5 m deep, incorporating 20 moveable modular piston wave makers and recirculating current

• Recirculating current generation

• Option for use with sediments

Sediment Wave Flumes

Flumes of differing dimensions and capabilities, including a sediment wave flume, 35 m long x 0.6 m wide x 0.8 m deep, which can all be used with or without sediments, and a 20 m flume as above but with the additional feature of tilting.

Contact telephone: 0800 052 5600email: [email protected]: www.plymouth.ac.uk/coast



Polygen Ltd

Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd, SeaRaser Device

Volta, Polygen Ltd wave energy converter is tested at Plymouth University’s COAST laboratory

Plymouth University’s COAST laboratory was commissioned by Polygen Ltd to carry out tests on its Volta wave energy converter technology in the 35m Flume and Coastal Basin. Polygen Ltd returned to the Ocean Basin under the MaRINET transnational access program. As a result, the moored floating flap-paddle device has been incrementally tested under operational and extreme forcing conditions at a range of scales in COAST’s Sediment Flume, Coastal and Ocean Basins. Being modular, and with an assembly time of less than 5 hours, part of Volta was deployed in Loch Creran, Argyll.

The complete full-scale model has since been deployed at the FabTest site in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall, where a licenced offshore mooring facility provides moderate open sea conditions to further tests.

Rob Eavis, the inventor of Volta, said: “Plymouth’s Ocean Basin was ideal, both due to the large waves that can be created, and the top level specification of the analysis and recording technology.”

Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd returns to Plymouth University’s COAST Laboratory for further trials of the SEARASER wave energy converter device

In 2014 and 2015 Plymouth University’s COAST laboratory was commissioned by Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd to carry out tests on its SEARASER wave energy converter technology. The bed-mounted point-absorbing device was tested under operational and extreme forcing conditions at a scale of 1:14 in COAST’s Ocean Basin. Survivability of the device was also examined. COAST engineering staff analysed the performance of SEARASER, and reported the findings to Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd.

SEARASER inventor Alvin Smith said: “Testing of the 1:14 scale model at Plymouth Coast Laboratory was an essential part of the development of SEARASER. Greater performance was achieved after the first week with fine tuning achieved through the third week of the test programme.”

For further information please contact

telephone: 0800 052 5600email: [email protected]: www.plymouth.ac.uk/coast

CASE STUDIES


IMAGES From Nautibuoy Marine

CASE STUDIES

NautiBouy Marine Work with expertise and facilities within Plymouth University’s COASTLab

Totnes-based NautiBuoy Marine have designed and developed an innovative floating platform solution that meets leisure and maintenance needs both aboard vessels and in port.

Available in four different sizes, the NautiBuoy Marine Platform is stable, simple to manoeuvre and easy to lift from the water. Using an innovative ballast and air toggle system, these platforms are set to become essential assets on any yacht.

The company has pulled out all the stops in terms of development, working with expertise and facilities within Plymouth University’s COAST Lab to fully realise an expansive product offering based on elegant innovation. From stainless steel D-rings to soft handles that don’t scratch the boat or mark the deck, every detail has been specifically designed and then rigorously tested using Plymouth University’s powerful Ocean Basin research facility within the Coastal Ocean and Sediment Transport Laboratory. The University’s Marine Innovation Centre has worked closely with NautiBuoy to help them access University expertise, facilities and business support.

After 100s of wash downs using guest ready tenders and even more hours repairing jet skis and damaged transoms, Founders and Directors Nina Anderson and Clay Builder realised the need for a multi-functional inflatable platform that yachts could always have access to and easily stow on board – no more frustrating days spent looking for marina rafts!

Nina and Clay saw the need for a stable leisure platform where guests could relax, close to the water on a floating island of comfort, or dock their jet-skis safely whilst enjoying the water sports on the yacht. Their aim was to produce a premium quality platform of superior durability and multi-functionality.

To learn more please visit: www.nautibuoymarine.com or contact the team via [email protected] / +44(0)1803 863233

Marine Innovation Centre CASE STUDIES

MARINEINNOVATIONCENTREWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITYThe Marine Innovation Centre (MARIC) is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

EUROPEAN REGIONALDEVELOPMENT FUND


CASE STUDIES

Ensign hand-build versatile powerboats that are uniquely tough and very easy to maintain. The boats are each designed and built from a workshop in South Devon, combining the strength and resilience of aluminium with superb handling and styling. The craft are designed to be highly-robust and dependable, offering customers an alternative to often delicate and costly boats and giving the confidence to explore without limits.

Working with Plymouth University’s Marine Innovation Centre, the company broadened links with the local marine leisure and the manufacturing sector, attended innovation workshops and even accessed student talent – all to move the Ensign vision forward.

Chris Starkey, who designs and builds the craft:

“We want to give owners greater freedom to enjoy being out on the water, and greater confidence to use the boats to their full without the concerns about damaging them.

So often I’ve seen boats bought, but then never used to their full potential. I wanted to build a boat that makes it easier for people to get out and enjoy being on the water without worrying about the limitations.”

Building the boats from aluminium is key to their design. The boats are fully-welded from marine-grade aluminium to create a super-tough shell that can cope with more than your average wear and tear.

“Aluminium isn’t really used that widely for leisure boats here in Britain, but for me, it’s the perfect material. It’s very strong and adaptable, and you can create some lovely lines and finishes with it. It’s also very light for its strength when compared with fibreglass or wood, so it creates a more efficient craft too.”

Chris added: “Working with MARIC has opened up lots of new opportunities for us both within Plymouth University, and through their contacts in the industry generally. They’ve introduced us to people, and ideas, that can really help us move the business forward – which is especially valuable for small businesses like ourselves. For example, it was through a MARIC event that we were introduced to a local marine consultancy, Safeguard Nautica, who helped us ensure CE compliance for the leisure market, and who we are now working with to explore new routes into the light commercial market too.“

To learn more please visit: www.ensignboats.co.uk or contact the team via [email protected]

Ensign Boats Broaden links with the local marine leisure and manufacturing sector

MARINEINNOVATIONCENTREWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITYThe Marine Innovation Centre (MARIC) is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

EUROPEAN REGIONALDEVELOPMENT FUND



PANalytical wavelength-dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence instrument (WD-XRF) in the ISO9001 accredited Plymouth University Consolidated Radioisotope Facility (CoRiF)

RESEARCH

The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SoGEES) has recently purchased and installed a state-of-the-art PANalytical wavelength-dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence instrument (WD-XRF), together with a new permanent technical post, in the ISO9001 accredited Plymouth University Consolidated Radioisotope Facility (CoRiF). The facility allows direct determination of elemental concentrations in geological materials and riverine, estuarine and marine sediments contaminated with wastes from, for example, mining. Linked to this SoGEES strategic investment, HEIF V funds through the Marine Institute were used to facilitate integration of the WD-XRF facility into the established ISO9001 framework through purchase of equipment to maintain integrity of samples and analytical standards during manipulation for analysis and storage.

The analytical facility will be central to two new EU Horizon 2020 projects led by Prof. Will Blake of the Catchment and River Science Research group (CaRiS). The SEDiLINK project, with Dr Andra Iurian, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, will explore sediment linkage between land, river and sea to evaluate impacts of historic mining on sediment quality in the coastal zone. The IMIXSED project

concerns food, water and energy security linked to soil erosion and reservoir siltation in East Africa. In collaboration with groups in Belgium, Spain and UK, the project will involve knowledge exchange with scientists from Jimma University, Ethiopia, and the Nelson Mandela African Institute for Science and Technology, Tanzania, in advanced analytical and sediment tracing techniques.

New state of the art equipment to be used on two new EU Horizon 2020 Projects


SUCCESS

A UK company that is leading the way in the field of seabed harvesting is to fund two PhD posts at Plymouth University.

Seabed Resources Development Limited is funding two students to undertake doctorates in marine ecology and earth science at Plymouth University over the next four years.

The partnership between the University and the company, which is a subsidiary of technology and engineering firm Lockheed Martin UK, will give two graduate students from developing countries the opportunity to become experts in a field critical to the emerging deep seabed economy.

One of the PhD posts funded under this programme will focus on seabed mapping, working alongside the University’s acclaimed scientist Associate Professor Kerry Howell. The other course will focus on geochemistry, and the extraction of minerals, working with academics in the school of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Electron Microscopy Centre.

Seabed Resources Development Ltd secured a licence in 2013 to explore a claim site in the Pacific Ocean for polymetallic nodules containing nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, as well as rare earth elements. This resource is likely to assume increasing importance as land-based deposits of these metals become depleted. As authorised by the International Seabed Authority and the British Government, the company has begun the preparatory environmental

and technical efforts to explore the Clarion Clipperton Zone, located in international waters between Mexico and Hawaii. In an environmentally and technologically sound manner, the company plans to collect these polymetallic nodules that contain metals used in the construction, aerospace, electronics, and alternative energy industries.

“The worldwide demand for these minerals continues to grow, for use in modern technologies such as electric cars, mobile phones and satellite communication,” said Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute at Plymouth University. “The deep ocean remains a major source of these metals, with estimates running into the trillions of dollars’ worth. But the process of locating, mining and extracting them as sustainably as possible remains a major logistical hurdle.”

The PhD focused upon seabed mapping will tap into Dr Howell’s extensive experience of predicting the location of sensitive habitats, such as cold water coral reefs in the Atlantic and has been awarded to South African Kirsty McQuaid.

The second PhD, led by Dr Arjan Dijkstra, will concentrate on innovative extraction techniques, using electron microscopes at the University to peer inside the structure of deposits similar to the golf ball-sized manganese nodules found on the seabed. The successful applicant for this post was Wycliff Tupiti from the Solomon Islands.

Stephen Ball, Chief Executive of Seabed Resources Development Ltd and Lockheed Martin UK said: “Harvesting minerals from the seabed will have far reaching benefits and this is an exciting opportunity for two students to help us develop our knowledge and expertise and ensure we remain at the forefront of this emerging industry. We are firmly committed to the environmentally friendly extraction of nodules and look forward to partnering with Plymouth University, which has an excellent reputation for research in this area.”

Both students will start by January 2016 and include a guaranteed place on a research trip to the Pacific as part of the arrangement.

Professor Attrill added: “This is recognition of the wide range of expertise that we have here at Plymouth University, and the reputation of our Marine Institute and Graduate School. And in addressing themes of sustainability on a world stage, we are delighted to be playing our part.”

UK company to fund marine science PhDs at Plymouth University



Neumayer Channel

(Plankton-derived Emissions of trace Gases and Aerosols in the Southern Ocean)

Nitrogen is a dynamic element in marine systems. It is primarily used as a nutrient but may also have a climatic role. For example, glycine betaine (GBT), a nitrogen-containing organic chemical produced by phytoplankton, degrades to produce methylamines. These volatile compounds can cross the air-sea interface where they affect atmospheric chemistry and influence cloud formation. This characteristic makes the methylamines potentially significant for climate regulation which, in turn, will affect algal productivity. However, although predicted changes in climate make an understanding of their role in marine systems a key research goal, the cycling of the methylamines on a global scale is poorly understood as they are very challenging to measure, due to their physical properties and low environmental concentrations.

Previous reported methods for analysis of methylamines (MAs) have involved specialist equipment, and this seems to have limited the scope for studies of these compounds within the oceanographic community, despite evident interest in their occurrence. As a result, Charlotte developed a sensitive method for their quantification in seawater during her PhD research; this approach utilises readily-available equipment and consumables with the hope that it could be more widely adopted by the oceanographic community. In the last few months of her project she secured a place at the

bi-annual DMSP (dimethylsulphoniopropionate) Symposium in May 2014 where she presented a poster on the analytical method.

With considerable interest in her research on both GBT and the MAs she was invited to participate in the Spanish-led PEGASO cruise (Plankton-derived Emissions of trace Gases and Aerosols in the Southern Ocean) in the Southern and Antarctic Oceans. This was an exciting project that aimed to study biological controls on the production and emission of aerosols and aerosol-forming trace gases. This was a large and challenging project that brought together a variety of specialists to try and investigate the affect that the microbial community and trace gases in the ocean have on aerosol formation and, ultimately, cloud formation.

Charlotte continues her story “We left the port of Ushuaia in early January and after a scenic trip down the Beagle Channel, crossed a stormy Drakes Passage and arrived at the South Shetland Islands for the logistics phase of the trip. We were lucky enough to visit the Spanish Base on Deception Island where there was snow and ice up to your shoulders and even a few penguins to see. Once the logistics were completed we moved on to the science part of the cruise.

The planned route for this trip involved visits to three phytoplankton blooms: one near the South Georgia Islands, one near the South Orkney Islands and one in the Weddell Sea. However, the weather conspired against us: our attempted trip into the Weddell Sea

REPORTING BACK

From a Post Doc’s poster presentation to an invitation to participate in the PEGASO Cruise Charlotte Cree reports back



Charlotte Cree

was unsuccessful due to the region still being ice-locked, while 9 m high waves prevented us from heading straight to South Georgia. Instead, we started sampling at the South Orkney Islands where we were lucky enough to visit two spatially distinct blooms. We waited out a storm in the relative safety of the Orkney Islands before sailing through the somewhat calmer storm (waves only 4-5 m high) to South Georgia. The 10 days we spent sampling and travelling to and from South Georgia were truly the most miserable of the cruise. The storms and bad weather surrounding them meant that I suffered terribly from seasickness, culminating in a trip to the ship’s doctor. When we, finally, escaped the waters around South Georgia they had time to fit in an unexpected trip to Anvers Island to sample another bloom. At 64° south, Anvers Island was the furthest south we travelled.”

This was the first trip to sea for Charlotte and her new analytical method. Her methods proved to be robust even in the most challenging of marine environments, which was very satisfying, she was also able to discuss progress and get advice from her supervisor in Plymouth using WhatsApp. The data collected will contribute significantly to a very limited field of information and includes spatial and temporal analysis of methylamine concentrations in the Southern and Antarctic Oceans.

The return trip included passing through the truly stunning Neumayer Channel and a trip to Livingstone Island where they visited the Johnson Glacier. After

completing further logistics work at the South Shetland Islands the team then crossed Drakes Passage again, through the biggest storm they had thus far encountered, and after six weeks at sea they warrived back in Ushuaia.

Of the experience Charlotte says:

“Dry land beneath my feet had never felt so good. It was a truly memorable experience and I would like to thank both Professor Rafel Simo (CSIC Barcelona) for the invitation to participate on the cruise, and the Marine Institute for their support.”


The University / Marine Institute / Met Office delegation in Abu Dhabi. (Left to right) Ian McFadzen, David Wilson (Met Office), Martin Attrill, Georgy Shapiro

SUCCESS

MI Exhibit at NAVDEX an International Defence Exhibition in the Middle EastMore than 1,000 exhibiting companies and 80,000 visitors attended the NAVDEX /IDEX (International Naval Defence and Maritime Security / International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February 2015.

This visit helped cement the relationship with the United Arab Emirates government and enhance reputation of Plymouth University and Met Office in the Middle East, which included invitations to the reception at the UK embassy in UAE and discussions with high level UAE dignitaries.

UAEOcean: is a £4m contract research project with the UAE Government, which commenced in November 2014. The project is led by Professor Georgy Shapiro

in the University’s School of Marine Science and Engineering, who heads-up the Plymouth Ocean Forecasting Centre, and forms part of the University’s prestigious Marine Institute’s global offering.

The UAEOcean team (Prof Georgy Shapiro, Prof Martin Attrill, Ian McFadzen, and David Wilson from the Met Office) exhibited jointly on the Naval Advanced Solutions (NAS) stand in a premium location, just a few meters away from the official stand of the United Arab Emirates armed forces.

For further information see: www.navdex.ae/Content/About-NAVDEX/1_3/



Pictured left to right: Professor Nikolaos Tzokas, Professor Jingjing Xu, Koji Sekimizu and Professor David Coslett during the Secretary-General’s visit to Plymouth University

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Koji Sekimizu

TEACHING & RESEARCH

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, visited Plymouth University as part of the preparations for World Maritime Day 2015.

He met with students and academics from the university and talked to senior university management, including Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor David Coslett, and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business Professor Nikolaos Tzokas.

The Secretary-General was also given a tour by Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute, of the state-of-the-art facilities housed within the Marine Building which includes a cutting edge navigation simulator.

Professor Jingjing Xu, Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Business and Professor of Maritime Law and Economy at Plymouth University, said

“It was a great honour to welcome Mr Sekimizu to Plymouth, as the IMO plays a significant role in an industry responsible for carrying around 90 per cent of the world trade. Plymouth University has helped in training the leaders of that industry over many years, and our world-leading facilities and researchers will ensure we continue to be at the forefront of global shipping education”.

Plymouth University has a rich and prestigious heritage in maritime education, being able to trace its roots back to the Plymouth School of Navigation, which was founded in 1862. It has thousands of graduates working in the commercial shipping industry while, through a partnership with the Britannia Royal College in Dartmouth, the University helps to educate the naval officers of the future.

Mr Sekimizu, who is the seventh elected Secretary-General of the IMO, said:

“It was a pleasure to visit Plymouth University, not least because of the significant maritime heritage the University builds on to continue to provide well qualified professionals to the maritime industries. This year, IMO is ensuring added focus to maritime and training, which are indispensable if the industry is to continue facilitating world trade and ensuring sustainability”.

IMO Secretary-General experiences maritime innovation at Plymouth University


Tomasz Szyrowski

TEACHING & RESEARCH

New Technology to Remotely Detect Subsea CablesIn 2013 researchers from Plymouth University led a landmark review of technological approaches to tackling a persistent problem in marine engineering: how to detect underwater cables buried in the seabed.

The two review papers have generated a flurry of interest and are now the most highly cited articles in the journal Underwater Technology. The papers were based on the PhD work undertaken by Tomasz Szyrowski in the University’s Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) Research Group, working with Dr Sanjay Sharma and Prof Robert Sutton.

The group has continued to work in partnership with a local SME, SCT Subsea Cable Tracking Ltd, to develop instrumentation for detecting buried submarine cables using the electromagnetic effect. In the next phase of the project the researchers developed the technology to work in combination with their unmanned surface vehicle. This fully autonomous system successfully tracked an underwater cable. Future applications will look at hunting for other metallic objects underwater.

The latest paper describing this work can be found in the Journal of Underwater Technology: Szyrowski, T. et al. (2015) Subsea cable tracking by an unmanned surface vehicle. Underwater Technology 32(4): 217-229.


SUCCESS

Professor John DinwoodieDr. Sarah Tuck

Sustainable environmental management in smaller portsThrough a Knowledge Transfer Partnership funded project, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) were able to facilitate the appointment of a Marine Sustainable Developments Officer (MSDO) who developed a Port Sustainability Management System (PSMS) and stakeholder management framework to ensure systematic collation and analysis of fragmented data.

Research in marine sustainability has typically featured particular scientific processes and environmental sustainability initiatives focused on larger ports. However this research, led by Professor John Dinwoodie, Dr. Sarah Tuck and Dr. James Benhin of Plymouth University’s Faculty of Business, initially deployed a case study strategy to investigate the processes of environmental management.

This research prompted wider dissemination of more information spanning corporate social responsibilities and sustainability doubling the value of editorial coverage, creation of a stakeholder management system, and inter-port meetings to discuss best practice. The MSDO role, now commercially funded and embedded within FHC, provides specialist advice and information which reduces external consultancy fees, increases publicity, reduces advertising costs, enhances stakeholder contact, constructive relationships with environmental interest groups, disseminates specialist environmental awareness training and materials for harbour users and guide students.



NEWS

AnnouncementsMI Welcomes new staff:Dr Richard Pemberton as a lecturer in Mechanical and Marine Engineering Design. Richard worked as a consultant Naval Architect both in a self-employed capacity and at the University of Southampton’s Wolfson Unit for Marine Technology and Industrial Aerodynamics. In these roles Richard achieved Chartered Engineer status with RINA, and gained a wide range of experience in sailing and motor yacht design, model and full scale experimental testing, yacht structural analysis and has won TSB grant funding for collaborative research projects with industrial partners.

Dr. Abigail McQuatters-Gallop will be joining the School of Marine Science and Engineering as Lecturer in Marine Conservation. After completing her PhD at Plymouth University, Abigail has spent the last seven years working as a Science and Policy Research Fellow at the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science in Plymouth. She is an active participant in science-policy knowledge exchange, and leads the UK’s and OSPAR’s implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats.

The School of Marine Science and Engineering also welcomes Dr Jian Wan, who completed his PhD at the University of Girona, Spain, 2007, commenced as a Lecturer in Control Systems Engineering. Dr Wan is also member of the Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) Research Group

Dr Steve Fletcher takes up post – Head of Marine Programme, United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge

The WCMC is UNEP’s specialist biodiversity arm which conducts applied research to support UNEP and other global conservation agreements and policies. In his new role, Dr Steve Fletcher will lead a team of researchers undertaking applied marine and coastal research focused on marine conservation policy. Steve will retain links with the University and continue to supervise PhD students, and develop new funding opportunities for the university, including partnerships with UNEP-WCMC. We wish him all the best in this new role.


NEWSwww.plymouth.ac.uk/marine


UPDATES

Marine Institute’s Exhibition calendar

2nd Annual PRIMaRE Conference 16th June 2015

Members of the Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) a consortium of marine renewable energy experts across higher education, research and industry have joined together to establish a ‘network of excellence’ the south of the country held their 2nd annual PRIMaRE conference back in June 2015.

Smart Sound Plymouth Workshop 26th June 2015

Hosted and run by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and supported by Plymouth University and Plymouth City Council, the Smart Sound Plymouth workshop shared the latest science and technology for Plymouth Sound and the western English Channel. With the aim to establish a strategic coastal partnership to improve the coordination of current technologies, monitoring and facilities, the workshop aimed to promote and develop this marine environment for testing and development of marine technologies of the future.

11th EWTEC (European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference) September 2015

This international scientific conference, which is held every two years in Europe since

1993, provided a forum where researchers, engineers and those involved in the development of Marine Renewable Energies to meet and exchange ideas, experience and much more.

Shallow Survey September 2015

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency hosted ‘Shallow Survey 2015’ in conjunction with Plymouth University. This the 7th International conference on High-Resolution Surveys in Shallow Water was held at Plymouth University’s world class facilities.

Global Wave Conference (Surfers Against Sewage) 12th – 14th October 2015

The Marine Institute sponsored the Global wave conference in association with the Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group. The conference brought together leading campaigners, coastal planners, scientists, oceanographers and international experts in wave physics, coastal morphology, wave-energy generation, coastal law and economics to discuss legislation and compare the best ways of protecting global surf spots. The conference was held in Cornwall with a final reception at the Houses of Parliament in London.

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) London October 2015

The Marine Institute is showcased Plymouth University’s environmental research at a special event in London. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) had their research ship Discovery berthed in London with a range of research presentations and activities on display for the public and government officials.

2nd Away-day for Early Career Researchers 10th November 2015

The Marine Institute will be holding it’s second away-day for early career researchers. This is an opportunity for junior researchers to meet people from across the marine research disciplines at Plymouth University. The day will be focussed on researcher development and building multidisclipinary collaborations.

Innovate UK – 6th – 9th November 2015

Marine Institute staff will be attending the Innovate 2015 global spotlight on innovation, providing access to inventive and creative companies, exploring innovative ideas, discovering new export opportunities and be able to hear from original thinkers. Innovate 2015 provides second-to-none networking opportunities, a whole host of fresh thinking and expert advice to help accelerate your company’s global growth. It’s the one event that brings together the research base, business, UK and international investors, international buyers from overseas markets and government organisations, to help fund and



support your innovative ideas and make a real difference to your company.

Marine Institute’s Public Lecture “How Clean is Plymouth’s Water?” 12th November 2015

The next Marine Institute public lecture will be on November 12th. A range of experts from industry and academia will try and answer the question “How Clean is

Plymouth’s Water?” with lots of time for discussion with members of the audience so come along and find out about the health of rivers and seas surrounding Plymouth.

Devon Maritime Forum Event 8th December 2015

Theme will be “Understanding, Managing and Coping with Coastal Change” at the Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish.

ICOE 2016 23rd – 25th February 2016

The ICOE is a global marine energy event focused on the industrial development of renewable marine energy.

The Coxside Marine Station, our new waterfront £5 million building that features classrooms, laboratory, sea water aquarium, diving facilities and home to our fleet of University vessels has launched a new YouTube video see:

www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-marine-science-and-engineering/marine-station

MARINE STATIONWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY


Grant successDr Mark Briffa has been awarded a grant of £250K from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for a three-year project which will look at the interactions between genes and experiences of fighting on the ‘personality’ of sea anemones. Sea anemones are related to jellyfish and coral that lack a central nervous system but are still capable of showing complex behaviours. Mark gave a keynote lecture on aggression and personality in animals at the International Ethological Conference this August at Cairns, Australia and closer to home you can see anemones in action, when Mark gave a demonstration of their behaviour for the One Show on BBC1 this summer.

Pluto webcamPlymouth Underwater Teaching Observatory (PLUTO) streams live underwater video from Plymouth Sound. This recently installed webcam facility provides a unique view into the underwater habitat of Plymouth Sound in real time. The PLUTO project, developed by Dr Nicholas Higgs, aims to engage people with marine life in Plymouth Sound special area of conservation by providing an ‘eye in the sea’, accessible to anyone on our website.

Schools will be able to join in with live experiments and work with scientists to learn about the local marine environment. In the current age of ‘citizen science’ the PLUTO platform will give members of the public the chance to help generate useful scientific data.

A series of online events and lectures will harness this engagement to raise awareness about the state of the marine environment and the research being done at Plymouth University. For more details see:

www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/marine-institute/pluto

UPDATES SUCCESS


NEWS

Climate change conferenceProfessor Camille Parmesan is one of a number of scientists who spoke at a climate change conference in France. The climate scientists gathered in Paris five months ahead of the deadline for a historic carbon-curbing pact to show that a radical shift to sustainable energy can still limit disastrous planet warming. Read more in the Times Live.

www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2015/07/07/Scientists-point-to-narrowing-gap-for-averting-climate-disaster

Professor Camille Parmesan



NEWS

Plymouth University academic partner Marine Learning Alliance has just launched an innovative e-learning course in Meteorology, Oceanography and Operational Planning. Delivered via an easy-to-use web app, it makes the course available wherever, whenever on any Apple or Android tablet, phone or laptop. Any marine professional can study in their own way at their own speed and achieve the same learning outcomes as a week’s residential course.

The course is accredited by the IMarEST for CPD and content covers the fundamentals of weather, waves and their effects on maritime operations. It is ideal for those working in or with any part of the marine world whose activities are potentially affected by the seas and their weather. More info at www.mla-uk.com or contact Adam Corney at [email protected] or 07803 831038.

New E-learning Metocean course launched


FROM THE EDITOR

Thank you to all who have contributed to Issue 16.

Please provide all your news articles, success stories and innovative collaborations to the following email address: [email protected] titled ‘MINEWS’. Our next issue will go to print around February 2016. We also welcome details of your future Events for 2016.

Thank you. Jo Thompson-Byrne, Senior Project Officer, Marine Institute – Newsletter Editor



Marine InstitutePlymouth UniversityMarine Building, Level 3Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AAUnited Kingdom

T: +44 (0) 1752 584953F: +44 (0) 1752 584950E: [email protected]/marine@PlymUniMI

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