Accu fasteners part of world first marine seagrass harvester
Precision engineering component distributor Accu has collaborated with Tandem Ventures, an organisation which specialises in science, technology and conservation innovations, and Project Seagrass, a marine conservation organisation, in the development of the world’s first underwater seagrass harvester.
Seagrass thrives in vast meadows in sheltered coastal waters and these ocean meadows are known as the lungs of the ocean. They capture carbon up to 30 times faster than rainforests, stabilise sediments and provide sanctuary for young fish. However, 90% of the UK’s seagrass has been lost, which has led to a race against time to develop the world’s first underwater seagrass harvester to enable rapid replanting of the seedpods.
The Tandem Ventures team set out to design and build a towable underwater harvester capable of trimming the tips of seagrass blades, collecting seedpods and filtering them to the surface. The challenge demanded a solution that was sufficiently robust to meet the requirements of the harsh marine environment, yet delicate enough to preserve life in the ocean.
As the concept was developed, precision became all important. Accu supplied marine-grade A4 stainless steel fasteners to hold the entire machine together. It was essential that the fasteners were corrosion resistant and robust and that they could keep each joint stable through this high-pressure underwater operation.
The fasteners supplied included Accu’s M6 Torx screws for the frame through to 3mm Polyfix screws to secure the onboard datalogger. Tests demonstrated that these components maintained their integrity and performance, even following prolonged submersion in the ocean.
Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu, explains: “The quality of the fasteners was crucial to the project’s success. We recommended our marine-grade stainless steel fasteners due to their exceptional resistance to saltwater oxidation, plus their proven strength in mechanical assemblies exposed to extreme conditions. The result was a system that performed exactly as designed; being watertight, resilient and easily maintainable by divers and engineers alike. “
Patrick Faulkner adds: “We are extremely proud to have played our part in this innovative project that is set to solve an important environmental challenge. Our components are designed for durability, accuracy and performance and it is very satisfying to see them being used on a project to like this. This isn’t the first time we have partnered with Tandem Ventures and these innovations are truly pioneering in meeting crucial environmental needs.”
The bright yellow seagrass harvester prototype, nicknamed Thunderbird 4, was trialled in one of the UK’s last remaining seagrass sites, in North Wales. The prototype proved to be effective in collecting seedpods in the twin-barrel filter system and from that small collection of seedpods, a scalable future began to take shape.
The prototype was subsequently upgraded in design with reinforced extendable legs, which allowed for precise cutting height adjustability. The designers also added zip hatches, so divers could clear blockages safely and a blade guard to shield wildlife, while maintaining efficient cutting performance.
The seagrass harvester proved to be up to 100 times quicker than manual collection of seedpods and the design is set to transform the scale of global seagrass restoration.
Edwin Towler, Design Engineer & Wildlife Presenter at Tandem Ventures, said: “We would like to thank Accu for their support in making this project possible. The result is a seagrass harvester that is up to 100 times faster than manual collection, with huge implications for restoring seagrass meadows in the seas around the UK and throughout the world.”
Earlier this year Accu collaborated with Tandem Ventures and whale conservation organisation WhaleWise to supply fasteners used within a drone conservation system to monitor humpback whales in their natural environment with scientific accuracy.
The project involved the supply of a number of Accu fasteners, including Polyfix screws, which are corrosion resistant and eliminate the need for embedded nuts and Accu’s high performance PEEK (semicrystalline thermoplastic and high purity polymer bolts) which replaced heavier stainless-steel bolts. This weight reduction directly contributed to increased drone flight times and enhanced operational efficiency for Whale Wise.
For more information about Accu’s precision engineering components and its role in supporting conservation efforts, visit the website www.accu.co.uk