CEFAS26-103 Contract for the Supply of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle for WaveNet

WaveNet, Cefas' strategic wave monitoring network for the United Kingdom, provides a single source of real-time wave data from a network of wave buoys located in areas at risk from flooding.

In operation since 2002, WaveNet collects and processes data from the Cefas-operated Datawell Directional Waverider buoys, tethered at strategic locations around the UK coastline. The WaveNet system also gathers wave data from a variety of third-party platforms and programmes (industry and public sector-funded).

Requirement:

The WaveNet team wish to explore the opportunities presented by small, low-cost unmanned surface vehicles. We wish to compare wave height and direction observations collected from one of these platforms against our existing buoy infrastructure.

Deliverables:

1. Deploy and safely operate an unmanned surface vehicle near one of the WaveNet buoy sites, collect comparison data (significant wave height, wave direction, wave statistics) for three months.

a. To be commenced by December 2026

b. Data is to be delivered via the Supplier web portal in near real time, at least at 30-minute intervals to best compare with the WaveNet buoys.

c. The entire dataset shall be available to download in bulk at the end of the project. Cefas will own the data, with the intention to publish publicly following review.

Location for services to be undertaken:

Our preference is for the Poole Bay WaveNet site, 50°38.020'N, 001°43.100'W. Other sites will be considered