Green Marine UK, based in Orkney, has played a pivotal role in a significant milestone for the ocean engineering company DEEP. Acting as the Principal Contractor, Green Marine successfully conducted the submergence test for DEEP’s innovative subsea habitat, Vanguard, at Kishorn Port in Scotland. This project is a crucial step in DEEP’s mission to establish permanent human habitation on the seafloor. The Vanguard habitat is a modular, transportable, pressurized vessel designed for human occupancy at depths of up to 200 meters for extended periods.
Eventually, Vanguard will serve as a precursor to DEEP’s larger habitat system, known as Sentinel. From the project’s inception, Green Marine UK has been essential in identifying potential deployment sites across UK waters and has overseen all marine operations related to Vanguard’s submergence and testing. Their leadership and coordination proved vital for the success of the trials, which ultimately led to DEEP securing DNV approval for their project. Jason Schofield, Managing Director of Green Marine, expressed pride in the company’s involvement, stating, “It’s an honour to support the DEEP initiative, which continues to attract global attention.”
Myles Metson, Green Marine’s Operations & Technology Director, highlighted the company’s ability to optimize the use of its MultiCat vessel to perform tandem crane lifts and subsea deployments safely and efficiently. The recent operations at Kishorn Port included externally pressure-testing the Vanguard hull to ensure its structural integrity in a controlled marine environment. This technical achievement lays important groundwork for future human-occupied trials. Tom Allison, DEEP’s Pressure Vessel Lead, noted that the successful operation marks a vital milestone in deploying the first subsea human habitat.
He commended the meticulous work that preceded this achievement, which involved complex design, engineering, and collaboration with various partners, including Green Marine and DNV.