Mobilis sends buoy data streaming offshore

Real time data stream technology developed by French buoy manufacturer Mobilis is now ready to be used offshore.

The live data technology links to buoys at sea to provide MET and oceanographic data, enabling users to gain a comprehensive overview of the weather and conditions under the waterline.

The technology was demonstrated by UK navigation aid specialist Hydrosphere at Seawork and John Casky, managing director of Hydrosphere, said: “It's giving you the same data in an existing buoy - so it's one lot of deployment, it's one lot of maintenance and it's going to save people money.”

Developed 18 months ago, the wave monitoring technology was in test mode for over a year and units are currently being sent out to sea. Visitors to Seawork were able to see the technology in action as it linked to a Mobilis DB Planier buoy moored off the coast of Marseille.

Casky explained that Waverider buoys are usually required to combine electronic data with navigation data from another buoy, whereas with Mobilis’ technology only one buoy is required. “You can use an existing buoy which is bigger, it's more visible, it's less likely to get hit or drag its mooring and disappear.”

The technology is currently being aimed at offshore wind farms during their construction and operational phase so that developers can run more cost-effective projects by knowing when it is safe and feasible to send vessels to offshore sites.

Mr Casky added: “If it’s too rough for them to work, they're having to pay for the fuel to get there and all the personnel that are on there. During operational phase they know that it's safe onsite to transfer technicians onto the turbines for any maintenance work that needs to be done.”

Hydrosphere are currently marketing the technology to wind farms in Scotland and off the East Coast of England and said Mobilis may also be marketing it worldwide.

Also on the stand was Hydrosphere’s AS315 solar power supply, which has three 15W solar panels and battery capacity of up to seven years.

Launched at Seawork 2016, the FullOceans FLC-1800 buoys featuring Mobilis technology and now being used by Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton, were available to view at the stand.

The Mobilis contract is part of ABP Southampton’s ongoing buoy upgrade process.