Seawork 2008 - Triskel Marine’s novel data gathering buoy wins the Marine South East ‘Spirit of Innovation Award’
Marine South East again sponsored the Innovations Showcase and Awards at this year’s Seawork Exhibition in Southampton. Entries were of the usual high standard and represented a wide range of the most innovative new products, projects and vessels that have been introduced by exhibitors during the past 12 months.
Awards were made in six categories with one overall winner:
- Marine Civil Engineering & Construction
- Vessel Design & Construction
- Marine Electronics
- Safety & Survival
- Marine Equipment & Materials
- Diving & Underwater Technology
The overall winner and winner in the marine civil engineering and construction was Triskel Marine Ltd for its ‘TML Data Buoy’. Legislative changes prompted Triskel to develop a new solution to the problem of affordable marine data collection for dredging operations. The Marine Bill and EU Integrated Maritime Strategy Paper will impose new legislative requirements on ports and harbours to gather good quality base-line environmental data to support such activities.
Through their membership of the SEEDA supported knowledge transfer network, EDSnet (Environmental Decision Support network) Triskel recognised a growing demand for affordable dense data networks, particularly in ports and rivers where the water movement can be chaotic and therefore difficult to monitor and model.
Existing methods of gathering water quality data use large and expensive oceanographic buoys. The large size and weight of these buoys make them expensive and difficult to deploy and recover. Triskel’s approach has been to minimise power consumption and size, resulting in a device that can be easily deployed by hand from a small boat rather than a large vessel equipped with a crane. In addition, recognising that operators dislike having to take computers and other electronic devices out onto the water all the buoy’s functions can be controlled from an office ashore via a data link.
On completion of prototype trials in the River Fowey the local mussel fishermen quickly recognised the value of real time water quality information and didn’t want the device removed.
On winning the ‘Spirit of Innovation Award’ MD Ken Wittamore said “it will give us invaluable exposure and credibility that is difficult for a small company to achieve in a tough market place.”
Winners in other categories included:
Vessel Design & Construction - Human Sciences and Engineering Ltd for their ‘High Speed Craft Human Factors Engineering Design Guide’.
Marine Electronics - Johnsons Outdoors UK for the ‘Hummingbird 1197c side imaging sonar’
Safety & Survival - Ocean Safety Ltd for their ‘Kru Sports Pro lifejacket with hood and harness
Marine Equipment & Materials - Turboswing BV for their Outboard Motor Towing Bracket.
Diving & Underwater Technology - Isptel Lda for their Computer based diving monitoring system – ‘Pro Diving 2008’
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