“The efficient use of ships and technology in applying policy at sea, some real examples and suggestions”

Gregory Darling

Chairman – Gardline Group

www.gardline.com

An Introduction Ship owning science and technology group operating worldwide

Main activity is providing vessel packages and services to government departments and offshore operators (60% of turnover)

Marine geophysics, hydrography, environmental monitoring, metocean, coastal modelling, marine mammal monitoring, sea bed sampling and drilling, satellite tracking of fishing vessels, biological studies, pre and post activity surveys, environmental baseline studies

GMSL, 500 staff in totala) 38% of the 163 starters last year were graduatesb) 23% total staff are female

Many companies within the group including satellite communications, security, ship repair and ship building

Privately owned British company – Turnover £140m, Staff 1,000 +

‘Ocean Researcher’

One of Gardline’s ocean going survey ships

Application of policy at sea

This means a ship + crew along with a technical team The ship provides the marine taxi and hotel services and the technical

team undertake the specific task

Many government agencies undertake work at sea using their own ships, but the private sector is used too

Gardline has been undertaking technical tasks at sea for many years, for example under contract to NERC, BGS, DERA, RN – now MCA, Accident Investigation Board, EA, DEFRA, etc

However these examples are traditional single task requirements

Government ships

There are many government ships. From the European Research Vessel database relating to the UK:-

Local and coastal vessels, 21 – Between 10 and 35m. 15 x fishery research, 2 x marine science, 1 x hydrographic survey and 3 x environmental survey

Regional vessels, 2 – Between 35 and 55m. 1 x fishery research and 1 x hydrographic (RN)

Ocean vessels, 2 – Between 35 and 65m. 1 x fishery research and 1 x hydrographic (RN)

Global vessels, 11 – Plus 65m. 2 x ocean research (NERC), 2 x fisheries research, 4 x RN trials/research/hydrographic. 1 x trial (MoD), 2 x Antarctic research (BAS)

In addition there are 7 x customs vessels and 3 x RN fishery protection vessels

Integrated activities

Rather than do one job, why not do more than one?

The concept of integrated activities has not been widely developed, why ‘one task’ ships?

The application of policy at sea needs efficient use of resources

Firstly, commercial operators are lower cost operators, on a like for like basis providing about a 20% saving. Government generally count ‘available’ days’ whereas Gardline counts ‘paid days’ – so we go to sea at Christmas for example, because we are paid

Secondly, by undertaking more than one task at a time greater efficiencies are available

Examples follow – Australia and Brazil

Norwegian customs vessel

Triton

Triton

Integrated use

Using the ‘Norwegian model’ of a commercially owned and operated vessel providing a service under contract, Gardline was successful in 2006 in providing ‘Triton’ as Northern Waters Patrol ship

Gardline provides the ship and crew, Customs provide the Customs team for fisheries patrol work

With a change of policy our client is now the ‘Australian Customs and Border Protection Service’, so Triton acts as a deterrent but also collects illegal fishermen and illegal asylum seekers at sea and transports them to the appropriate location

A second contract was awarded in 2008 to provide a near permanent presence on Ashmore Reef (500nm from Darwin)

Ashmore Guardian

Ashmore Guardian tasks

Deter illegal activity

Intercepting foreign fishing vessels

Pumping out foreign fishing vessels

Hold and transport apprehended or escorted persons

Refuel customs vessels

Assist with clean up of oil spills

Undertake scientific research and diving

Support the whole of government operations

Brazil UNCLOS project

2009 Gardline awarded contract with the ‘Sea Surveyor’ to perform a detailed survey of the continental shelf to gather evidence to support the UNCLOS entitlement

In addition to swathe bathymetry, a hull mounted sub bottom profiler and a gravity meter is a sophisticated seismic suite including a 6km streamer to gather geophysical data for government use in assessing natural resources and as primary information for developing a national database

Two jobs, one ship

Sea Surveyor

Application of policy at sea

Fisheries monitoring, an example of an integrated contract

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) have been installed as a result of EU legislation on the European fishing fleet

UK VMS systems are fitted to 850+ vessels

Contract awarded by DEFRA to Applied Satellite Technology Ltd (a Gardline company)

Work is multi-disciplined, includes: system design including tamper proofing, system installation on working fishing vessels, ongoing maintenance, satellite airtime provision and billing to all fishermen monthly

Fishing vessels

Suggestions for policy makers

Integrated surveys are lower in cost

There are further savings to be made in using competent commercial companies to operate ships and acquire data and undertake routine tasks as they emphasise margins and cost savings

There are further savings. A contract is flexible with policy changes, if you own ships then the 10 or 20 year life can become more important than the original task

Experience in ‘traditional’ government areas is available, eg. VMS activities

In conclusion

Co-ordination and cross-sectoral management is key

In addition to government resources the commercial sector can provide integrated multi disciplined monitoring, patrolling and policing in a practical and cost effective way