Global Aqua Survey Ltd are leading the way with Taiwan’s marine engineering sector and offshore projects
With the vast development of Taiwan’s industry and hi-tech industry over the near decade, the need for highly sophisticated marine engineering planning has also decisively increased. From industrial pipeline installments, near-shore industrial environment evaluations, cross-nation optic fiber cable deployments, to reservoir designs and many others. In response to these needs Global Aqua Survey Ltd. (GAS) was established, with a backbone comprising of Taiwan’s finest marine research facility NTUIO (National Taiwan University Institute of Oceanography) and the input of highly experienced professionals from the marine industry.
Global Aqua Survey possesses a full range of sonar equipment, with the knowledge how to use these instruments to maintain high quality accuracy: From Bathymetric single-beam to multi-beam echo sounder systems, side scan sonar systems, high-resolution sub-bottom profiling systems, to underwater video equipment.
In addition, Global Aqua Survey provide the most cohesive service. Starting from preliminary project planning, they continue to provide survey equipment, help with system setup, focus on data acquisition, data post processing, mapping, integration and even finish with interpretation of the analysed data.
Taiwan has been pushing for offshore wind power for few years, and Global Aqua Survey Ltd. has been undergoing a far-reaching evolution as the way they operate and investigate needs to be more diverse. For instance, in past few years, survey items included 3D Echo-scan underwater foundation, UXO survey (on beach and on seafloor), multichannel high resolution sparker seismic survey, sand waves migration measurements, CPT and vibracoring geotechnical sampling, intertidal zone aerial drone topographical survey, and shallow water zone ERT & MASW survey.
In order to accomplish these tasks, the company’s employees must initially give more tailored professional training, and training abroad to obtain GWO (Global Wind Organisation) or BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) certificates. For the company, the first step is to understand the international requirements for work safety norms. Therefore, in recent years, the company has worked with a Malaysian company named GEOLANTIC SDN. BHD., to teach GAS how to respond to HSE (Health and safety Executive) as a consultant and to learn how to handle the various HSE related documents required by employers.
In the realm of equipment, the original survey instrument must be constantly maintained and updated. This fact coupled with rapid replacement of the instruments, means that the company must be open to maintaining a long-lasting relationship with the equipment supplier. Therefore, a few years ago, GAS and Singapore’s SALT (Sea and Land Technologies Pte Ltd) established a cooperative relationship. In addition, they also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with STR Asia Pacific Pte Ltd for partnership; hoping that the company’s supply of precision instruments can be stable.
For GAS to explore the skill of surveying, this will must be supported by institutions outside of Taiwan to progress forward. For example, in order to sample a long sediment core, early cooperation with the United States’ Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey Company was required to carry out the lake’s 3-meter-long core using a mini-vibracorer. After that, GAS then worked with Alpine’s partner to sample 6-meter vibracorers at depths around 200 meters of the continental shelf area. In recent years, due to the need for offshore wind farm development, GAS have worked with Australia Based Neptune Marine Pacific Pte Ltd by signing a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019; particularly working together in the fields of UXO (Unexploded ordnance), CPT (cone penetrometer test), ROV (remotely operated vehicle), and underwater foundation and cable inspection consulting.
The developments of offshore wind power, from environmental assessment, development and design, to the completion of the operation and maintenance work, involve a wide variety of complex projects. This is not something a marine survey company like GAS can do alone. The GAS has been involved in many work projects over the years, earning a lot of invaluable experience. However, it is also accepted that from now, when the development of offshore wind power in Taiwan has finally begun, GAS must be modest. GAS is welcoming a transformation of operations, as well as working with foreign experienced survey companies, to develop valuable working relationships and thus create a stable, developed future.
