From fish stock surveys to launching autonomous monitoring equipment
April 29, 2025By Seawork Press FP
UK Docks Marine Services
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UK Docks has said farewell to the RV Cefas Endeavour following a very busy, but successful 13-day stay at UK Docks Marine Services in Teesside UK.
Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) is an internationally renowned aquatic scientific research and consultancy centre. Cefas aims to be the prime source of high-quality science used to conserve and enhance the aquatic environment, promote sustainable management of its natural resources, and protect the public from aquatic contaminants.
The RV Cefas Endeavour is a multi-disciplinary research vessel fitted with specialist survey equipment for a range of activities. The AW Ship Management-operated vessel supports all aspects of Cefas activities from fish stock surveys to launching autonomous monitoring equipment.
The vessel has the ability to deploy and recover a range of scientific instrumentation including fishing nets/trawls, environmental, geotechnical and geophysical sampling equipment and autonomous monitoring equipment. She was designed to minimise underwater noise and, therefore, disturbance of fish – ensuring better results from sonar equipment.
Work carried out by UK Docks Marine Services included: HPWW & full paint scheme of underwater areas, topsides, gantries, ‘A’ Frames and funnels. There were also ship side valve overhauls, rudder, removals, repairs and refitting, tail shaft seal insitu replacement, Windlass overhaul and pipework renewal.
Since entering service in 2003, RV Cefas Endeavour has helped to deliver data and evidence to public and private sector customers in support of statutory and ministerial signatory obligations, marine protected area designation, fish stock assessments and offshore wind farm developments.
UK Docks recently agreed a long-term lease on two more dry docks on Teesside, a move which will see the massive former Smith's dockyards site brought back to life under one company, with new jobs created to boost marine services on the river.
UK Docks Marine already operated two of the dry docks previously belonging to the iconic Smith's Docks Company but is now set to reopen the other two.
