TIDAL will evaluate the first deployment of the Ammonite seabed CPT crawler on a UK offshore transmission project. The project will demonstrate a beach-launched crawler-based methodology for nearshore geotechnical investigation at the EGL5 landfall at Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire. The survey will deliver 13 deep push cone penetration tests (CPTs), up to 52 in-situ thermal conductivity measurements and at least two vibrocore samples. The project will assess whether this approach can provide a safer, lower-cost and more efficient alternative to conventional nearshore investigations that rely on jack-up vessels and large marine spreads. Technical and operational learning will be generated on deployment, data quality, safety and efficiency. Findings will inform future investigation specifications and be shared through reports, workshops and industry dissemination activities.

Benefits

The project will evaluate a new approach to nearshore geotechnical investigation that has the potential to improve the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of ground investigations at offshore cable landfalls. The primary benefit will be the acquisition of high-quality geotechnical and thermal conductivity data from the nearshore environment, improving confidence in the landfall ground model and supporting more informed engineering decisions. Improved understanding of ground conditions can help reduce design uncertainty, optimise installation methodologies and minimise the risk of unforeseen conditions during construction.

The project will also evaluate whether a beach-launched crawler-based system can provide a practical alternative to conventional jack-up vessel and marine spread deployments. If successful, this could reduce mobilisation requirements, simplify logistics and improve operability within shallow-water and surf-zone environments where traditional techniques are challenging and costly to deploy. In addition to project-specific benefits for EGL5, the project will generate operational and technical learning on the deployment of crawler-based geotechnical investigation systems within the UK offshore transmission sector. This will provide National Grid with evidence on system performance, data quality, operational limitations, safety considerations and overall suitability for future projects.

The learning generated through the project has the potential to be applied across future offshore transmission developments, enabling more efficient delivery of nearshore investigations and reducing project development costs. The methodology may also support earlier access to critical ground information, improving programme certainty and reducing the need for additional investigation activities. If adopted more widely, the approach could contribute to lower survey costs, improved project delivery efficiency and reduced reliance on large offshore vessels. These benefits have the potential to reduce the overall cost of developing offshore transmission infrastructure and deliver longer-term value for electricity consumers.

The project will also produce technical reports, lessons learned outputs and deployment recommendations that will be shared across National Grid and the wider industry, helping to accelerate the adoption of more efficient nearshore investigation practices where appropriate.

If successful, the data collected from the innovation project will also help to de-risk the commercial elements of the main EPC contract prior to main ground investigation works for the EGL5 offshore cable landing.