Resources

Modelling Software

Marine Solutions has a range of modelling software that enables efficient data analysis and effective presentation and communication of results.

Sediment Sampling Equipment

Marine Solutions has conducted a large number of projects requiring sediment sampling for a range of parameters. We are experienced in the processes and procedures for sampling and assessment of sediments, and the manner for them to be safely sampled and handled as appropriate for the relevant analyses, whether that be contaminant, elutriate, pore-water, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), particle size, or other tests as required. We have the capabilities and equipment to collect sediment samples in the manner that best suits the requirements of a given project, be it by quad corer, vibrocorer grab sampler, hand-collected by divers, or otherwise.

Selected Past Projects:

  • Derwent Rivers wastewater treatment plants ambient monitoring program (TasWater)
  • Ecological assessment of public boardwalk development, Battery Point, Hobart (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Ecological assessment of port development, Triabunna, Tasmania (Burbury Consulting/Glamorgan Spring Bay Council)
  • Ecological assessment for marina redevelopment, Bellerive, Tasmania (Clarence City Council)
  • Marine ecological assessment for ‘Basslink’ cable construction (CEE)
  • Marine ecological assessment for bridge redevelopment, Bridgewater Bridge (GHD)
  • Environmental impact assessment of aquaculture facility, Spring Bay, Triabunna, Tasmania (Spring Bay Seafoods)
  • Environmental impact assessments for Macquarie Point sewage outfall and Hobart Rivulet, Derwent River, Hobart (Hobart City Council)
  • Environmental impact assessment of effluent and wastewater disposal, Coffs Harbour, NSW (Coffs Harbour City Council)

Water Profiling

Marine Solutions use YSI-Xylem EXO2 and EXO3 multi-parameter water quality sondes for in situ water quality measurements, which include, but are not limited to, temperature, depth, pH, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll. We have the capability to conduct deployments of the Sonde for continuous data recording over extended time periods, depending on the requirements of the given project. We are also experienced with the deployment and management of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) and a wide range of other data loggers including Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) loggers. Marine Solutions also has a Nortek AWAC 1MHz vessel mounted ADCP unit, which enables real-time readings of back scatter and currents, primarily for plume verification. This includes calibration, field operation, data management and reporting. The sampling, techniques and constraints of water sampling in the southern regions of Tasmania are all well known to Marine Solutions, and we have strong relationships with support networks to ensure samples are handled and stored appropriately and then assessed in a timely manner.

Working closely with the Tasmanian aquaculture industry, Marine Solutions conducts regular water quality monitoring for the Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) and TasWater throughout southern Tasmania, including the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Recherché Bay. We also conducted the environmental assessments for Spring Bay Seafoods, which recently resulted in them gaining international aquaculture sustainability accreditation through Friend of the Sea. We are one of only a few organisations that has been granted approval to sample treated abalone live-holding discharge water from processors for laboratory testing in the interests of biosecurity (granted as of mid-2013). In addition, Marine Solutions conducts a large amount of water quality monitoring for Sorell, Kingborough and Huon Valley Councils in relation to their effluent outfalls.

Selected Past Projects:

  • Ecological assessment of public boardwalk development, Battery Point, Hobart (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Ecological assessment of port development, Triabunna, Tasmania (Burbury Consulting/Glamorgan Spring Bay Council)
  • Ecological assessment for marina redevelopment, Bellerive, Tasmania (Clarence City Council)
  • Effluent outfall investigations (TasWater)
  • Outfall baseline surveys (Worley Parsons)
  • Baseline marine surveys of sewage treatment plant, Medang, PNG (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)
  • Marine ecological assessment for bridge redevelopment, Bridgewater Bridge (GHD)
  • Environmental impact assessments for Macquarie Point sewage outfall and Hobart Rivulet, Derwent River, Hobart (Hobart City Council)
  • Environmental impact assessment of effluent and wastewater disposal, Coffs Harbour, NSW (Coffs Harbour City Council)

Photographic and Video Equipment

The project team has extensive experience in underwater videography and interpretation of qualitative results. Underwater video is taken with a state of the art Full HD Sony NEX 5 camera housed in an Aquapazza underwater housing, along with over 1000W underwater video lights resulting in high quality clear footage. Video footage is reviewed by marine scientists who are experienced in determining habitat structure, community type and species composition from video and still photos. Detailed image analysis for community structure can also be conducted if required. In addition we have towed video capability with GPS overlay and speed/direction stamp should this be a more suitable method of collecting imagery. For aerial imagery, we own and operate a Phantom 4 Pro v2 professional drone fitted with a 20 MP camera capable of 4K video recording. Marine Solutions also has access to, and experience operating, a powerful ROV with dual lights, USBL positioning system, grabber arm and dual cameras suitable for working in deeper environments. This system is comfortably housed on our larger research vessel, providing a safe and efficient operational platform. Still photography is taken by a 14MP DSLR in a housing with external lighting, providing high resolution images, even in challenging environmental conditions.

Selected Past Projects:

  • Understanding broad scale impacts of salmonid farming on rocky reef communities (FRDC)
  • EIA, public boardwalk proposed development, Battery Point (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Baseline survey/ecological assessment, Domgas pipeline route (DOF Subsea)
  • Baseline survey, PNG LNG pipeline route (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)
  • Baseline marine surveys, sewage treatment plant, Medang, PNG (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)

Vessels

Marine Solutions has four vessels to cater for a wide variety of project types and working conditions. All vessels are in commercial survey.

The Abyss is a 14.0 m Cumberland power catamaran capable of undertaking projects throughout Tasmania and interstate. The Abyss is an ideal liveaboard vessel and has capacity for extended field trips with comfortable living quarters for clients and crew. The Abyss is cable of mapping bathymetry and habitats and is suitable as a base for research diving. It has a draft of 0.6 m and has a small tender.

We have a purpose built planing hull 6.0 m aluminium research vessel The Second  Solution, fitted with bathymetric and habitat mapping equipment, and with dive entry and exit fixtures for research divers. In addition, the vessel is fitted with computer logging equipment and towed video with recording capability. Furthermore it has powered lifting davits and sieving attachments for lifting and maneuvering heavy sampling equipment, a tender vessel and two sit-on-top kayaks.

Our outboard powered The Smooth Solution small rigid hull inflatable boat is suitable for near-shore rivers, lakes and sheltered shallow waters.

The Environmental Solution is a 6.0 m Hobson trihull with twin 90 horsepower engines. It has powered lifting davits and sieving attachments for lifting and maneuvering heavy sampling equipment, and is capable of accommodating our vessel-mounted ADCP set-up.  It is equipped with sounder and GPS for bathymetric mapping.  With a dive ladder and a very stable work platform, The Environmental Solution is a suitable platform for conducting dive work. It is primarily based in Macquarie Harbour for increased capacity in the west/north west region.

Dive Team

Marine Solutions personnel are trained and certified at Australian Standard 2815.1 or 2815.2. In addition, all personnel are trained commercial and/or scientific divers and have extensive experience diving in a wide variety of locations and conditions. Marine Solutions provides dive equipment which is all in current test.

If proposed depths of the study mean SCUBA or SSBA diving is an effective tool for gathering data we are well placed to provide commercially qualified dive teams of marine scientists to conduct underwater investigations, and used in combination with other techniques will result in a robust and defensible data set.

Insurances

Marine Solutions currently holds public liability insurance to the value of $10,000,000 through QBE insurance group. Marine Solutions also holds professional indemnity insurance and workers compensation insurance through Berkley Insurance and Arthur Gallagher. Furthermore, vehicles, vessels and other equipment is comprehensively insured for business use which includes public liability and NRMA insurances.

Laboratories

Marine Solutions utilises a well-equipped on-site workshop and Wet Lab for a multitude of services, such as sediment particle size analysis, sediment settling time analysis, samples preservation, chemical handling and controlled conditions samples storage.

We maintain excellent working relationships with numerous laboratories around the state and on the mainland, including Analytical Services Tasmania, ALS Global, Infauna Data and Selfs Point Laboratory, through which we have access to an extensive range of routine and specialty environmental testing and analyses. Testing through a NATA-accredited facility is ensured for most routine analyses; should you require NATA accreditation for a non-routine request we are well-placed to advise on the most suitable facility for testing.

Video and ROV Surveys

The project team has extensive experience in underwater videography and interpretation of qualitative results. Video is taken with a state of the art full HD Sony NEX 5 camera housed in an Aquapazza underwater housing, along with over 1000W underwater video lights resulting in high quality clear footage. Video footage is reviewed by marine scientists who are experienced in determining habitat structure, community type and species composition from video and still photos. Detailed image analysis for community structure can also be conducted if required. In addition we have towed video capability with GPS overlay and speed/direction stamp should this be a more suitable method of collecting imagery. Marine Solutions also has access to, and experience operating, a powerful ROV with dual lights, USBL positioning system, grabber arm and dual cameras suitable for working in deeper environments. This system is comfortably housed on our larger research vessel, providing a safe and efficient operational platform. Still photography is taken by a 14MP DSLR in a housing with external lighting, providing high resolution images, even in challenging environmental conditions. For aerial imagery, we own and operate a Phantom 4 Pro v2 professional drone fitted with a 20 MP camera capable of 4K video recording

Selected Past Projects:

  • ROV surveys to meet regulatory requirements for the application for establishment of new Marine Farming Zones in south east Tasmania.
  • Assessment of the extent of impact of dredge material disposal on benthic environments in northern Tasmania, using towed video footage and diver-collected images
  • Drop camera surveys of Spoil grounds in Bass Strait
  • Towed camera surveys of scallop beds and rocky habitats in Bass Strait
  • Intertidal and subtidal environment survey, Woodbridge, Tasmania (TasWater)
  • EIA, proposed jetty and boat ramp development, Fulham Island, Tasmania (Burbury Consulting)
  • Aerial plume studies to determine extent of effluent discharge at various outfalls, Tasmania (TasWater)
  • EIA, public boardwalk proposed development, Battery Point (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Baseline survey/ecological assessment, Domgas pipeline route (DOF Subsea)
  • Baseline survey, PNG LNG pipeline route (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)
  • Baseline marine surveys, sewage treatment plant, Medang, PNG (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)

Water Quality Monitoring

Marine Solutions use YSI-Xylem EXO2 and EXO3 multi-parameter water quality sondes for in situ water quality measurements, which include, but are not limited to, temperature, depth, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll. We have the means to conduct deployments of the Sonde for continuous data recording over extended time periods, depending on the requirements of the given project. We are also experienced with the deployment and management of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) and a wide range of other data loggers including Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) loggers. This includes calibration, field operation, data management and reporting. The sampling, techniques and constraints of water sampling in the southern regions of Tasmania are all well known to Marine Solutions, and we have strong relationships with support networks to ensure samples are handled and stored appropriately and then assessed in a timely manner.

Working closely with the Tasmanian aquaculture industry, Marine Solutions conducts regular water quality monitoring for Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) in the southern Tasmanian region, and TasWater throughout Tasmania including the Pieman River in the state’s west and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. We also conducted the environmental assessments for Spring Bay Seafoods, which resulted in them gaining international aquaculture sustainability accreditation through Friend of the Sea. We are one of only a few organisations that has been granted approval to sample treated abalone live-holding discharge water from processors for laboratory testing in the interests of biosecurity (granted as of mid-2013). In addition, Marine Solutions conducts a large amount of water quality monitoring for Sorell, Kingborough and Huon Valley Councils in relation to their effluent outfalls.

Selected Past Projects:

  • Vessel-based water quality monitoring for Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP), often requiring mobilization at short notice.
  • Ambient water quality monitoring of waste water treatment plant discharges throughout Tasmania
  • Monitoring of water quality in the vicinity of aquaculture facility intake systems.
  • In-situ monitoring of water quality parameters at Bridgewater for a three-month period
  • Ongoing water quality monitoring around coastal and offshore regions to develop ambient water quality guidelines for coastal regions
  • Effluent outfall investigations (TasWater)
  • Ecological assessment of public boardwalk development, Battery Point, Hobart (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Ecological assessment of port development, Triabunna, Tasmania (Burbury Consulting/Glamorgan Spring Bay Council)
  • Ecological assessment for marina redevelopment, Bellerive, Tasmania (Clarence City Council)
  • Outfall baseline surveys (Worley Parsons)
  • Baseline marine surveys of sewage treatment plant, Medang, PNG (Marengo Mining/COFFEY)
  • Marine ecological assessment for bridge redevelopment, Bridgewater Bridge (GHD)
  • Environmental impact assessments for Macquarie Point sewage outfall and Hobart Rivulet, Derwent River, Hobart (Hobart City Council)
  • Environmental impact assessment of effluent and wastewater disposal, Coffs Harbour, NSW (Coffs Harbour City Council)

Sediment Sampling

Marine Solutions has conducted numerous projects requiring sediment sampling for a range of parameters. We are familiar with the process and procedures for sampling and assessment of sediments, and the manner for them to be safely sampled and handled as appropriate for the relevant analysis, whether that be contaminant, elutriate, pore-water, TOC, particle size, or other tests as required. We have the capabilities and equipment to collect sediment samples in the manner that best suits the requirements of a given project, be it by quad corer, vibrocorer, grab sampler, hand-collected by divers, or otherwise.

Selected Past Projects:

  • Sediment sampling and characterization of the Granton banks prior to the Tas Irrigation pipeline being laid.
  • Sediment testing, then development and completion of a monitoring plan for the Nyrstar wharf redevelopment, Hobart
  • We have undertaken sediment sampling on specific projects to review and address the issue of marine sediments contaminated by Tri-butyl tin.
  • Geeveston Sewage Treatment Plant Ambient Monitoring Program, Geeveston, Tasmania (TasWater)
  • Ecological assessment of public boardwalk development, Battery Point, Hobart (SKM/Hobart City Council)
  • Ecological assessment of port development, Triabunna, Tasmania (Burbury Consulting/Glamorgan Spring Bay Council)
  • Ecological assessment for marina redevelopment, Bellerive, Tasmania (Clarence City Council)
  • Marine ecological assessment for ‘Basslink’ cable construction (CEE)
  • Marine ecological assessment for bridge redevelopment, Bridgewater Bridge (GHD)
  • Environmental impact assessment of aquaculture facility, Spring Bay, Triabunna, Tasmania (Spring Bay Seafoods)
  • Environmental impact assessments for Macquarie Point sewage outfall and Hobart Rivulet, Derwent River, Hobart (Hobart City Council)
  • Environmental impact assessment of effluent and wastewater disposal, Coffs Harbour, NSW (Coffs Harbour City Council)

Research Charters

Marine Solutions has four vessels to cater for a wide variety of project types and working conditions. All vessels are in commercial survey.

The Abyss is a 14.0 m Cumberland power catamaran capable of undertaking projects throughout Tasmania and interstate. The Abyss is an ideal liveaboard vessel and has capacity for extended field trips with comfortable living quarters for clients and crew. The Abyss is cable of mapping bathymetry and habitats and is suitable as a base for research diving. It has a draft of 0.6 m and has a small tender.

We have a purpose built planing hull 6.0 m aluminium research vessel The Second  Solution, fitted with bathymetric and habitat mapping equipment, and with dive entry and exit fixtures for research divers. In addition, the vessel is fitted with computer logging equipment and towed video with recording capability. Furthermore it has powered lifting davits and sieving attachments for lifting and maneuvering heavy sampling equipment, a tender vessel and two sit-on-top kayaks.

Our outboard powered The Smooth Solution small rigid hull inflatable boat is suitable for near-shore rivers, lakes and sheltered shallow waters.

A recent addition to our fleet is The Environmental Solution. This vessel is a 6.0 m Hobson trihull with twin 90 horsepower engines. It has powered lifting davits and sieving attachments for lifting and manoeuvring heavy sampling equipment, and is capable of accommodating our vessel-mounted ADCP set-up.  It is equipped with sounder and GPS for bathymetric mapping.  With a dive ladder and a very stable work platform, The Environmental Solution is a suitable platform for conducting dive work. It is primarily based in Macquarie Harbour for increased capacity in the west/north west region.

Other Sampling Equipment

Marine Solutions also own and operates a range of sampling equipment typically used in marine environmental assessments.  Examples of our extensive range of scientific/sampling equipment include;

  • A 10m Integrated tube sampler
  • Van Veen Grab sampler
  • Craib core sampler
  • Quad core sampler
  • Niskin grab sampler
  • A plankton net for towed or vertical profiles
  • A consumable store with eskis, polyboxes, soak pads etc.
  • Field eskis and refrigeration
  • Dissection capacity (and a new laboratory; built in 2014)
  • Sample fridges and freezers
  • Preservatives (Lugols solution, formalin, ethanol etc.)

Our team are all experienced and qualified field operators, and have experience in sample handling and preservation, as well as suitable packing techniques for samples. Additionally, we have significant experience with freight companies and likely challenges to transporting samples in a tight timeframe, and we have developed systems which allow rapid transit of samples to other capital cities while maintaining sample integrity.