Fugro to Start Marine Mammal Monitoring in Ireland for Offshore Wind Grid Project
Fugro will carry out a marine mammal monitoring campaign in Ireland as part of a two-year environmental services contract with EirGrid. This initiative supports the offshore wind grid connection infrastructure along Ireland’s south coast. The Dutch company will deploy eight seabed monitoring stations with underwater acoustic sensors to detect whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The campaign marks the first commercial use of Fugro’s new mooring system.
The monitoring aims to assist environmental assessments for EirGrid’s South Coast offshore grid program, which aims to connect around 900 MW of offshore wind capacity. Fugro’s systems will collect data on cetacean activity, focusing on species like the harbour porpoise. Data collected will be analyzed periodically, and Fugro will provide EirGrid with annual reports on species presence and distribution.
This contract is part of Fugro’s seven-year framework agreement with EirGrid, established in 2025, covering marine site investigations and related services. In November last year, EirGrid completed the first phase of marine and coastal surveys along Ireland’s south coast, identifying cable route corridor options. This work included geophysical, environmental, and metocean surveys around Maritime Area A, also known as Tonn Nua, part of the Irish Government’s South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan.
In November 2025, a joint venture between ESB and Ørsted secured a Contract for Difference (CfD) for a 900 MW offshore wind farm at Tonn Nua, awarded by the Irish Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment.
Additional Reading
For more details on the importance of marine mammal monitoring in environmental assessments, see this [study on marine noise impact](https://www.someexternalresource.com/marine-noise-impact).
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz