In December 2018 iCRAG researcher Dr. Mark Coughlan of iCRAG, along with industry project lead Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions and research partners from the Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI), were awarded €200,000 under the Marine Institute Research Programme (2014-2020) to conduct a 2-year morphodynamic study in the Irish Sea, including predictive sediment transport modelling that will be used to characterise future seabed changes and to quantify the risk for future offshore wind developments in the Irish Sea. It is envisioned that the outcomes from the project  will support the national strategy for the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource, as outlined in the National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy 2017-202, and the ongoing development of the national Marine Spatial Plan.

 

In addition, Dr Coughlan has been awarded 14 days shiptime onboard the state research vessel RV Celtic Voyager, valued at €112,00 (in kind). The project, Geohazard Investigation in the Irish Sea using Seismic and Seabed Mapping Techniques (GIST), will deploy novel site investigation methods alongside traditional seabed mapping to investigate and de-risk areas of seabed for future offshore wind development. The survey will take place in October 2019 and involves researchers from UCD and Ulster University as well as industry partners Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions and Apex Geoservices. 

 

You can find out more about Dr Coughlan's research on his iCRAG profile page.