AYIA NAPA, Cyprus — An innovative project is set to employ a fleet of small, independent underwater vehicles to monitor, safeguard, and gather information on offshore artificial reefs. These reefs are intended to promote marine life in otherwise barren ocean areas. The announcement was made public by officials on Monday.
The autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are anticipated as the “future of underwater surveillance.” These machines come equipped with sensors and high-definition cameras, delivering a detailed view of the success of the complex artificial reefs. These reefs have been crafted by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) using 3D printing technology.
Constructed from a sustainable cement mixture, these artificial reefs will feature a docking station that allows the AUVs to recharge and send gathered data, including videos, as explained by CMMI CEO, Zakarias Siokouros.
One of the primary benefits these AUVs offer is their capacity to remain submerged for up to a month, continuously providing data and acting as ‘protectors’ of the reefs. They can notify scientists of disruptions such as illegal fishing or boats entering protected areas, who, in turn, will inform local authorities.
At present, a trial run of the initiative, named EONIOS, is taking place in the waters near Ayia Napa marina in Cyprus. The plan involves installing the artificial reefs off the southern coast of Cyprus, near Limassol, at a depth of approximately 20 meters (66 feet), where sunlight can still reach the ocean floor.
“The reefs are designed to attract everything from plants to large fish, providing an inviting habitat given that the surrounding waters often lack adequate food sources,” Siokouros remarked after a demonstration of the AUVs’ functions at the Ayia Napa Marina.
This project, known as EONIOS, is a collaboration between the CMMI, French AUV manufacturer Arkeocean, Cypriot tech company SignalGeneriX, and French consultancy Lanego. Siokouros mentioned that the goal is to expand EONIOS to other nations interested in boosting their marine life through artificial reefs.
A significant advantage of the AUVs is their cost-effectiveness compared to tethered submarines, explained Tamara Brizard from Arkeocean. “We aim to have a system where six mini-drones can accomplish the job at the cost of one traditional drone,” she stated.
Currently, Arkeocean’s AUVs can carry up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of sensors and equipment. They are functional to depths of 300 meters (984 feet), with future models projected to reach depths of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet). The AUVs use an acoustic antenna for receiving commands and determining their position.
Battery-powered thrusters render the AUVs almost silent and unnoticed, making them valuable for defense applications, such as monitoring restricted waters. Thanks to an Iridium satellite antenna, these AUVs can be operated globally.
The AUVs can also harness undersea currents, conserving battery life. Furthermore, they have potential applications in the energy sector, such as detecting seismic activities for oil and gas exploration offshore or identifying optimal sites for offshore wind and solar farms, as Brizard noted.
