Seawater Life Support Project | Cornwall Business

A new, environmentally friendly and sustainable 27 meter long intake pipe has been successfully installed in Plymouth Sound through the collaboration of several Cornish and Plymouth companies.

The pipeline’s role is to provide the Marine Biological Association’s research laboratory with a consistent source of seawater to enable their research to continue.

Penryn-based ScaffFloat was commissioned to develop a submersible pontoon to install bespoke Marine Matts, which are used to hold the new pipe in place. Marine Matts, a unique structural material developed by ARC Marine, are made from a carbon neutral concrete alternative called Marine Crete. They have been designed with a texture and surface that can support and restore the biodiversity of local marine life, while providing durability and protection for the intake line.

ScaffFloat designed custom, self-propelled pontoons to transport the mats and pipe to the site of the new outlet. The mats, and the pipe with it, were suspended under four pontoons which moved them into position. Two pontoons had to be partially submerged, which was achieved by flooding the necessary floats to lower the Matt and pipe assembly to the seabed and ensure an accuracy of 100mm tolerance. The team teamed up with divers from Seawide Services, Falmouth, who ensured the mattresses were positioned precisely and then detached the pontoon from the mattress.

Toby Budd, founder and managing director of ScaffFloat, said: “This was a great first case study showing how ScaffFloat can be used both underwater and above water. We always welcome the opportunity to develop the scope of work we can achieve with ScaffFloat.”