OSC comprises a team of highly qualified marine scientists with a wealth of combined knowledge and experience in the fields of oceanography, marine biology, marine mammal science, marine mammal observer (MMO) and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) services, underwater sound level and frequency measurements, and scientific and commercial (HSE) SCUBA diving. Our firm has ownership of, and access to, a wide range of complementary technologies. We offer a complete package of survey design, measurement and analysis.

OSC offers programme administration and budgeting (comprehensive tenders), survey design, selection and oversight of field researchers, individual or multiple field studies (including concurrent projects in different geographical locations) and consolidation of field data to meet overall programme goals, coordination of field studies and measurements with any marine activities, data analysis and preparation of results in preferred format e.g. regulatory body or peer review.

The team is accredited to provide specific methodologies for (a.) baseline studies, (b.) environmental monitoring, and (c.) replicated and controlled scientific experiments, that are most appropriate for each particular application. The specific methodologies will depend upon factors including the questions that need to be answered (or the objectives of the exercise), target species, location, conditions, operational area and range, possible influences from any anthropogenic activities, available resources, and practical and logistical issues.

Our ecological survey work provides baseline data for impact assessment prior to development. This can include natural resource inventory and post-operation or development monitoring. We provide a cost-effective service in environmental impact assessment (EIA), with early identification of potential constraints providing an opportunity to integrate ecological considerations at the design phase of projects. We can perform EIAs in support of activities such as fish-farming, dredging, wind farms, water and sewage plants, pipelines, river and coastal defence works, harbour developments and boreholes.

Our marine mammal monitoring and/or research surveys have employed various techniques, including visual observations using naked eye and binocular searches, photographic identification, towed array and static hydrophones, from the shore, dedicated or industry vessels, offshore installations and platforms of opportunity. These services are provided typically for oil and gas, geophysical (both seismic and drilling exploration), hydrographical, dredging and pipe-laying industries.

Using source levels and frequency measurements of sound from various support vessels, offshore installations and drilling operations, we have assessed the probability of generated noise spectra potentially masking the audio bands of marine species. These animals rely upon vocalisations and/or passive acoustics (or hearing) for orientation, communication and detecting their prey.

As our contracted services move towards completion of their objectives, it is usually possible to formulate improvements and recommendations for monitoring and finalise a framework for safe levels of any marine activity in question, to enable environmental objectives to be met and satisfy regulatory obligations.

OSC aims to provide a one-stop solution and can contract associate organisations on an ad hoc basis in order to extend its range of services to include additional expert skills in areas such as remote visual technologies, multi-beam sonar, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), dredging and archeology.

We are always happy to discuss individual requirements and there is usually scope to customise methods and equipment to suit each particular application.
 

Applying a statistical analysis technique called ‘distance sampling’, we can potentially generate population estimates for macro-marine or terrestrial species on any scale and in any location throughout the world. The desired precision and unbiased nature of such estimates are related to sample size, survey coverage, methodology, including accurate measurements of sighting distance and angle. Irrespective of whether surveys are dedicated to monitoring cetaceans, pinnipeds, birds or terrestrial species, our observers record all incidental species sightings to facilitate an ecosystem approach and understanding of inter-population dynamics.

An essential part of long-term management of cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) populations and their habitat is a robust and cost-effective means of monitoring relative abundance and density (e.g. animals per km2) before, during and after any marine activities. Abundance and density estimates can provide useful information at a rudimentary scale; however, more detailed information on the distribution of animals can be obtained by applying density surfacing modelling techniques. These techniques use satellite data and mathematical models to describe how density is related to a range of habitat variables (e.g. depth and distance from coast) using data collected along survey transects or within the confines of shore studies when point sampling is preferentially employed. Such a model can then be extrapolated to the whole survey area to provide a picture of how density varies at a fine spatial scale.

Visual data collection and analytical methods developed by Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM), based at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the adoption of the associated ‘Distance’ software programme, in conjunction with the recommended techniques of other industry experts, are typically employed to maintain consistency and comparability. Depending on the complexity of a survey, observers can be supervised in the field by technical and statistical experts to ensure that survey methods are implemented correctly. Post survey, the focus of a project changes to data processing and analysis, the complexity of which is generally the determining factor in the time requirement for these studies. All the visual shipboard, installation, shore or terrestrial-based data need to be validated and converted into a standard format prior to any analyses.
 

OSC provides marine mammal observers for the purposes of scientific research (e.g. employing distance sampling methodologies to derive population estimates) and/or to ensure that industrial operations are compliant with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) ‘Guidelines for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine mammals from seismic surveys’ (2004), Minerals Management Service (MMS) ‘Implementation of seismic survey mitigation measures and protected species observer program’, Minerals Management Service (MMS) ‘Implementation of seismic survey mitigation measures and protected species observer program’ (2007), or similar guidelines elsewhere.

Observers are typically experienced and qualified prior to joining our team, but most candidates, particularly cruise leaders, still receive in-house training to ensure that there is a pool of personnel adopting universal methodologies, which in turn can facilitate data comparability for future surveys and monitoring.

The UK, Irish, USA, Alaskan and Australian guidelines (and practices) all entail visual observations by MMOs positioned aboard source vessels. In all these cases, mitigation actions, including soft starts, delayed soft starts and airgun shutdown, will be implemented when marine mammals or turtles are sighted within specified distances (typically 500 or 1000 m).

There is a plethora of guidelines that have been developed for the conduct of seismic data acquisition, pile-driving and drilling operations, in areas where marine mammals and turtles have the potential for occurrence. These vary from country to country and even jurisdiction within countries. The most comprehensive sets of guidelines have been developed for the following areas:

The science of infra-red (IR) night-time vision technology is still in its infancy. We have conducted some preliminary research on night-vision systems and trialed their use in the field during marine mammal observations, with poor results, so OSC is unable to warrant and recommend this methodology. Nevertheless, we are willing and capable of providing this service according to regulatory necessity (e.g. German and Australian waters).
 

Passive and acoustic monitoring (PAM) means detecting and logging animals by listening to the noises that they make. There are obvious advantages to adopting acoustic monitoring in conjunction with visual monitoring, to try and detect unseen animals during daylight and/or during periods of darkness, poor visibility weather and unfavourable sea state conditions. For these reasons, industry and its regulators are under increased pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to include PAM as part of the existing precautions for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine mammals and other species from seismic surveys. So it is generally anticipated that, as the technology matures over the next few years, PAM will become a legal requirement during seismic surveys. To this end, we provide a comprehensive service in terms of logistics, PAM operators and a choice of hydrophone systems to suit specific objectives and budgets, including static units and towed arrays funded through our own research and development programme.

Our PAM operators are capable and well-equipped to deal with most technical problems that could arise in the field, but in the event that specialist expertise is required, shore-based support can be readily mobilised at very short notice to any world-wide destination with the necessary range of tools and equipment. We understand clients’ requirements and constraints and can therefore offer this service to minimise any expensive and unnecessary downtime.
 

As a general overview of respective applications, real-time towed arrays provide excellent spatial characteristics for a survey area, while static hydrophone systems and click detectors are perhaps more suitable in a temporal context for point locations, but there are many other factors to consider. All our systems are non-invasive and silent when logging.

Towed Arrays – OSC offers two main options: (1.) ‘New generation’ OSC system, commissioned through our own research and development initiative and designed to meet growing expectations of science, industry and its regulators; and/or, (2.) Commercial system designed to meet the needs of the seismic survey industry.

The OSC system employs advanced state-of-the-art technology that is optimised for the detection of cetacean vocalisations at subsonic frequencies (extreme ends of the sound spectrum), specifically ultra low frequency (or infrasonic) baleen (or rorqual) whale noises (e.g. moans, grunts, pulses, thumps, rumbles, ratchets, sweeps, clicks, chirps, whistles, blasts, shrieks, calls, songs etc) and ultra high (or ultrasonic) porpoise echolocation. During analysis, acoustic data can be processed and screened for cetacean vocalisations (down to species, where possible) with a detection algorithm and categorised into different types of detections such as single clicks, events (multiple clicks) and multiple tracks (possibly more than one animal). The ability to detect the subsonic frequencies of these animal sounds will depend upon several factors, including the permitted towing distance of the array behind the research, support, seismic data acquisition, chase or guard vessel(s).

The alternative commercial system has demonstrated its capability in the field, providing positive detections of sperm whales and dolphin species in UK and Irish waters during seismic surveys. The commercial system also benefits from duplicated contingency units that can be easily and quickly exchanged, while a robust construction has ensured the safe recovery of the lead-in and array following sea states in excess of Beaufort Scale Gale Force 9.
 

Dunking Elements - Acoustic measurements of industrial noise can be performed over various frequency bands from a few Hz to several hundred kHz using multiple recording systems. These bands are typically selected to cover the audio response bands of most marine species likely to be encountered in the measurement area. In addition to potential noise level assessment, acoustic monitoring for several marine mammal species can also be performed. Specialised equipment, including broadband echolocation signal detection systems, can be used in conjunction with broadband real-time spectral analysis. Typically, equipment consists of omni-directional receiver transducers, that have good low frequency sensitivities, and from which data acquisition is made directly to a laptop PC hard disk for low frequencies ‘audio band’ (<24 kHz) using a digital interface to a 16-bit resolution 48 kHz sampling and for high band-width (10 Hz – 200 kHz) using a National Instruments PCMCIA interface to a 12-bit resolution 320–400 kHz sampling. Various conditioning preamplifiers can be used to maximise recording use of dynamic range and improve the signal to noise ratio. The audio-band recordings are AC coupled using high-pass filters whilst the high bandwidth recordings are made with a band-passed preamplifier set from 2-150 kHz. These specialised conditioning systems are designed for underwater acoustic measurements and can be custom designed to suit particular application.
 

Click Detectors – Clicks resembling those produced by odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) arise from various sources, but not in the semi-regular sequences called 'trains' that are specific to the echolocation of these animals. The T-POD and C-POD (www.chelonia.co.uk) are the only commercially available systems that implement train detection for odontocetes. The output has been experimentally validated against visual and acoustic observations in many environments to monitor a diverse range of species, including deep diving beaked whales. These static autonomous click detectors are relatively low-cost systems, for which we have a proven track record for pioneering work with excellent results. Researchers typically deploy numerous PODs and accept the often high probability of losing some units or worse, but, to date, our own custom-designed deployment and mooring configurations have secured a 100% recovery rate.
 

We have employed a wide range of oceanographical instruments, including sediment samplers, CTDs (conductivity, temperature and depth probes), ADCPs (acoustic doppler current profilers), turbidity meters (for assessment of drill cutting plumes) to provide information specific to the marine environment at our location of interest. Our studies have also incorporated information from remote sensing technologies, such as wind direction, wind speed, wave height and wave period from wave buoys, sea-surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration data from satellites, in order to support or refute hypotheses derived from local observations. Such knowledge can lead to a better understanding of factors influencing species distribution and abundance in particular areas of the ocean, which can lead to more informed decisions regarding commercial and industrial activities in the marine environment.

 

OSC is equipped and experienced to perform a range of scientific and commercial HSE SCUBA diving operations that comply with the requirements of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (DWR97) and associated Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs). The diving team’s typical remit includes the following services:

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the largest piece of legislation to date that regulates the health of European waters, using an ecosystem approach. To monitor and assess the potential environmental impacts on the health of ecosystems, the WFD has adopted the measurement of species richness of macroalgae (large seaweeds) before, during and after any marine activities, which could be adopted as an EIA tool around any intertidal and sublittoral sites, including rivers, estuaries, shorelines, shore-based and offshore installations. We have been trained and accredited to identify the 70 most common species of macroalgae, by the Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
 

OSC personnel are qualified to operate fast crafts and small vessels, for which they have received WIldlife SafE (WiSe) training and accreditation (‘Accredited Marine Industry Operator’), a scheme designed to promote universal protocol for safe navigation of boats in the vicinity of macro marine wildlife (e.g. cetaceans, pinnipeds, sharks and turtles) and minimise any disturbance to these animals. WiSe is a self-regulatory scheme that is entirely funded by the UK government and receives the logistical support of many mainstream international NGOs. For more information visit: www.wisescheme.org.uk

Charter operators and companies are invited to submit their details, where vessels meet the desired specifications to support any of our range of services for both coastal and offshore projects. Survey vessels should be seaworthy for the anticipated conditions and, if necessary, provide an observation platform of sufficient height and/or winches. When planning to tow hydrophone arrays from a charter vessel, a one-day acoustic trial period may be required to determine the relative noise regime. An acoustic trial may be spent traversing transects whilst testing and optimising the sensitivity of hydrophone arrays, prior to the main survey.

OSC promotes a company-wide effort to remain at the forefront of industry, through a continuous programme of testing, revising and refining protocols, methodologies and equipment. Existing academic responsibilities and research interests keep our minds scientifically tuned and abreast of new theories and discoveries while ongoing collaborations enable us to provide custom-designed and inventive technologies.

OSC is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the UK government has acknowledged that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often provide a better service than larger companies, owing to the following virtues: