UKRI-5996 BGS North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments
Description: The British Geological Survey (BGS), acting on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), requires a marine coring capability and suitable vessel to operate offshore southern North Sea, Netherlands or Denmark, for a scientific drilling and coring campaign for a period of 30 days (estimated) between April and May 2027. This scientific coring project seeks to extend our understanding of Earth's dynamics during the last 50 ice ages and the warmer periods between them. The North Sea Basin is an area that was heavily impacted by these ice age cycles as climate fluctuated between fully glacial to warmer-than-present conditions. The continuous sediment accumulation found in this marine environment should be thought of as a 'tape recorder' that contain an almost complete record of glacial-interglacial episodes, (read more...)
Summary: UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is currently in the planning stage of its procurement process for the project titled "UKRI-5996 BGS North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments." This initiative, falling under the services industry category and specifically focusing on offshore drilling services, aims to undertake a 30-day scientific drilling and coring campaign in the southern North Sea off the coasts of the Netherlands and Denmark. The main goal is to explore and gain insights into the Earth's historical climate patterns. The procurement process is still in planning, with key dates including an expression of interest due by 30th June 2026 and future notices planned for 2nd July 2026. The total budget for this project is estimated at €15,000,000, funded by central government public authority.