Offshore staff
STUART, Florida – CSA Ocean Sciences has completed a series of nearshore geophysical surveys in support of an offshore wind development project off the US northeast coast.
Starting in May, the company’s multi-purpose vessel R/V Dolphin and crew of marine surveyors performed more than 10,000 hours of fieldwork along an export cable route.
This was the second fieldwork season for the recently outfitted, 15-m (49-ft) vessel which is based outside CSA’s regional office in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Power is supplied by twin diesels and a 20-kW generator, with a raised wheelhouse providing a 360° view.
To support marine geophysical missions, the R/V Dolphin carries equipment that includes a dual-head multi-beam echosounder, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, gradiometer, single-channel seismic, sound velocity profiler, and underwater position systems.
The company is also conducting benthic surveys with MMT US, which involve collection and scientific analysis of benthic grab samples, capture of real-time video of the seafloor, and sediment profile imaging. These data will assist characterization of the benthic habitats along the export cable route and within the lease area.
Following completion of the benthic campaign, CSA will support compilation of geotechnical data.
08/17/2021
