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Protecting the marine environment with low-impact hydrocarbon sensing

07.11.2023

Excerpt: The challenge There are nearly 500 oil and gas structures nearing end-of-life in UK waters alone, and thousands worldwide. Decommissioning of these structures typically requires environmental assessment and continued monitoring, which currently relies on dedicated ships and teams of people offshore. As the UK transitions towards Net-Zero, low carbon solutions are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst maintaining the capability to carry out effective surveys. To achieve this, low cost and long-range vehicles are required, along with a suite of low power and accurate sensors. The solution The Autonomous Techniques for infraStructure Ecological Assessment (AT-SEA) project, led by NOC, explored the use of Autosub Long Range (AKA Boaty McBoatface) to survey the NW Hutton and Miller decommissioned infrastructures andRead more

Change in leadership at Chelsea Technologies

24.07.2023

Excerpt: Chelsea Technologies, a leader in optical sensing technologies for oceanographic research and compliance monitoring, today announced that Elizabeth Paull, Managing Director, will be stepping down from her role. Ian Hale, who brings 20 years of experience from a range of industries, including the marine and defence sectors, has been brought in to support Chelsea’s management team while it seeks a permanent successor. Elizabeth will take up a new role supporting the development of the wider Ocean Science strategy for parent company Covelya Group during the leadership transition period, allowing the Chelsea team to continue to benefit from her deep knowledge and experience of the Ocean Science marketplace. Stephen Fasham, Chelsea chairman commented: ‘Elizabeth has put Chelsea on a great courseRead more

Ocean Gulf Coast 2023

28.06.2023

Excerpt: Oceans Gulf Coast 2023 to be held at Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, September 25 – 28 2023, is a dedicated annual event for global marine technologists, engineers, students, government officials, lawyers, and advocates. Industry thought leaders gather for four days to highlight relevant topics and current trends while creating a community of learners and influencers who consistently advance research, practices, and policies for the marine field. Visit chelsea at Booth 921 to speak to our experts about how our pioneering underwater technology can support your research. We will be showcasing our Ocean Science technologies, including a range of biological sensing instrumentation from active fluorescence to bioluminometers. Click here to find out more about the event

Chelsea expands biological sensing product range at Ocean Business

17.04.2023

Excerpt: The new high biomass algae assessment tool, LabSTAF HB, and an underwater spectral PAR sensor, S-PAR, build upon our comprehensive range of products for monitoring and understanding phytoplankton and algae in natural and industrial applications. In addition, the TriLux product is further enhanced with new software, Sensor Monitor, and a user calibration kit to make accessing data and maintaining the sensor easier. LabSTAF HB high biomass algae assessment Building upon the original LabSTAF, the LabSTAF HB high biomass model of the instrument makes assessment of phytoplankton primary productivity accessible to industrial algae growers. With an extended upper limit of detection 10 times higher than the standard LabSTAF and a dynamic range suited to high concentrations of algae, LabSTAF HB is anRead more

Invasive Species Compliance – Why Monitor Ballast Water?

15.03.2023

Excerpt: Why are invasive species problematic? As unavoidable as it might sound for any successful species to expand its geography, today’s world is one in which a species can end up transported 10s of 1000s of km away from its native range, which can quickly create an unnatural imbalance, and which is why compliance is now mandatory. Invasive species are problematic for various reasons: Factors (ie predators) that limit the invasive species where it came from are either absent in the new area, or Invasive species outcompete native species for resources and quickly become dominant, or Invasive species act as a vector for viruses and diseases that the native species do not have resistance for. The latter has been a particularRead more

What is Invasive Species Dispersal by Ballast Water?

01.03.2023

Excerpt: How does Invasive Species Dispersal in Ballast Water Occur? As vessels take on ballast water in one location, they can inadvertently pick up aquatic organisms. Such organisms can then be transported to a different location when the ship discharges its ballast water. If the new environment is suitable for the organisms, they can establish populations, becoming invasive species. Ballast water discharge can occur in both coastal and open ocean environments, increasing the potential for invasive species to spread to new areas. What are the Ecological Impacts of Ballast Water Invasive Species Dispersal? The ecological impacts of invasive species dispersed by ballast water can be significant. These species can outcompete native species for food and habitat, altering entire ecosystems. They canRead more

The Importance of Monitoring Wash Water for Scrubbers

03.02.2023

Excerpt: The importance of monitoring wash water for scrubbers cannot be understated. It is clearly crucial for shipowners that they take the best option for their vessels and operations to ensure compliance with the regulations. For those considering making the investment in scrubbers, they will need to fully understand both the regulatory and operational implications and will actively seek reassurance that making the investment to install a system will result in compliance with all applicable regulations. For scrubber manufacturers, the onus is on them to provide reliable proof that their systems are fit for purpose and will not create further regulatory complications for their customers. It is only though accurate monitoring that both of these criteria can be met. Importance ofRead more

Monitoring Wash Water on a Ship

01.02.2023

Excerpt: In the 2008 amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI, the IMO agreed in Regulation 14 to reduce the maximum allowable sulphur content of marine fuels from 4.5% to 3.5% in 2012, and then to 0.5% in 2020, except in sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs), where the maximum sulphur content was limited to 1.0% in July 2010 and 0.1% in January 2015. The IMO agreed to implement the 0.50% sulphur limit in 2020 based on research showing that sufficient quantities of compliant, low-sulphur-content fuel would be available in 2020 (Faber et al., 2016) and that doing so would prevent tens of thousands of premature deaths each year by reducing air pollution (SofievRead more

IMO-compliant PAH+ and Turbidity Sensors for Retrofit

Invasive Species in the Marine Environment

23.01.2023

Excerpt: FastBallast is capable of determining the phytoplankton cell density of ballast water at the IMO D2 & USCG Discharge Standards (10 to 50 µm range) with a higher degree of confidence than laboratory analysis. As well as its established presence in Europe and Asia, Chelsea Technologies’ FastBallast is in use worldwide, to help ensure industry tools for portable ballast water testing standards. What is an Invasive Species? An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area; it has ‘invaded’ an area and hence the very specific description ‘invasive’. It is not the same as a successful or rampant species that’s native to the area. Successful species can and do of course extend theirRead more

Chelsea’s TriLux multi-parameter algae sensor has been chosen for use on abalone farm in South Africa!

13.01.2023

Excerpt: We are delighted to announce that our collaborators at Abagold Ltd and University of Bedfordshire have chosen our TriLux multi-parameter algae sensor for monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) on the inlet to their abalone farm in South Africa! Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are considered a significant threat to commercial scale abalone farming along the South African coastline and requires continuous monitoring. The GCRF Agrifood Africa project, ‘Developing a Resilience framework using Digital Innovations for the Aquaculture industry in South Africa’ aims to apply a cost-effective, sustainable solution to manage incoming water quality to aquaculture operations. The data from Chelsea’s multi-parameter algae sensor TriLux will feed into an integrated sensor network and be used to develop a mariculture model for predictingRead more

Optimising Multispectral Active Fluorescence to Distinguish the Photosynthetic Variability of Cyanobacteria and Algae

09.01.2023

Excerpt: The study “Optimising Multispectral Active Fluorescence to Distinguish the Photosynthetic Variability of Cyanobacteria and Algae” assesses the ability of a new active fluorometer, the LabSTAF, to diagnostically assess the physiology of freshwater cyanobacteria in a reservoir exhibiting annual blooms. Specifically, we analyse the correlation of relative cyanobacteria abundance with photosynthetic parameters derived from fluorescence light curves (FLCs) obtained using several combinations of excitation wavebands, photosystem II (PSII) excitation spectra and the emission ratio of 730 over 685 nm (Fo(730/685)) using excitation protocols with varying degrees of sensitivity to cyanobacteria and algae. FLCs using blue excitation (B) and green–orange–red (GOR) excitation wavebands capture physiology parameters of algae and cyanobacteria, respectively. The green–orange (GO) protocol, expected to have the best diagnostic propertiesRead more

Rivers and Seas in 2022 – Hidden in Plain Sight: The News You Missed

09.01.2023

Excerpt: Rivers and seas in 2022 2022 was quite the year for river and seas restoration. Israel and Jordan agreed to team up to save the Jordan, a sacred waterway close to running dry. The agreement, struck at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where world leaders discussed how to mitigate the escalating impact from a changing climate, marked an important, albeit initial, step in cooperation. In Bangladesh studies released in 2022 show the Halda is bouncing back after just four years of conservation efforts – after fish eggs all but disappeared from the river several years ago. Historical records say around 4,000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) of fish eggs could be found in the river in 1941, but that number nearly hitRead more

UV Fluorescence In The Oceans

09.01.2023

Excerpt: UV fluorescence is a valuable tool for oceanic studies, as it allows researchers to identify and quantify the presence of specific substances in the ocean, as well as study the physical and chemical properties of seawater and the biology of marine organisms. It is sensitive, fast, and easy to use, and can provide valuable insights into the ocean's ecosystem and climateRead more

Compliance Testing on Sea Vessels

15.12.2022

Excerpt: The IMO was established following agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948 and came into existence ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, IMO currently has 175 Member States and three Associate Members. Amongst other regulatory responsibilities, the IMO also has responsibility the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships and for the prevention of invasive species in ballast water. Wash water compliance On January 1st, 2020, a new IMO compliance limit on the sulphur content (SOx) in the fuel oil used onboard ships came into force. Known as IMO 2020, the rule limits the sulphur in the fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emissionRead more

Phytoplankton and Climate Change

05.12.2022

Excerpt: The Redfield ratio SPOTLIGHT ON PHYTOPLANKTON ➤ What are phytoplankton? ➤ Phytoplankton dynamics ➤ Phytoplankton and climate change ➤ Studying phytoplankton Early clues to the global importance of phytoplankton appeared in the 1930s. During research voyages of the time, samples of sea water from the deep ocean were measured to analyse the relative amounts of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus — elements needed to construct essential cellular molecules — in both phytoplankton and the sea water. Remarkably, in every region of the ocean sampled, the ratio of nitrogen atoms to phosphorus atoms in the deep ocean was 16 to 1 — the same ratio as in phytoplankton. For more than 20 years, the scientific community puzzled over why these ratios wereRead more

Studying Phytoplankton And Their Productivity

05.12.2022

Excerpt: SPOTLIGHT ON PHYTOPLANKTON ➤ What are phytoplankton? ➤ Phytoplankton dynamics ➤ Phytoplankton and climate change ➤ Studying phytoplankton Photosynthetron-based measurement of 14C fixation cannot be applied on meaningful spatial and temporal scales, which means that there is inevitably an under-sampling of the oceanic environment for phytoplankton. The key scientific direction for Chelsea Technologies is to develop widely accessible instrumentation that science can use on significantly wider spatial and temporal scales than 14C fixation, at comparable levels of accuracy and precision. 14C fixation and phytoplankton productivity The 14C tracer method is the historical standard for photosynthetic measurement of phytoplankton. It provides the only direct measurement of carbon capture and has a long and distinguished historical sequence of datasets against which toRead more