Sea Technology

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COVER—The Fugro Equator vessel has been involved in the bathymetric survey of the search area of the miss-ing Malaysia Airlines fight MH370. It will be joined by the Fugro Discovery vessel to search for the missing aircraft. Both are ftted with specialist deep-tow survey systems for the work. (Photo Credit: Fugro)

NEXT MONTH—Why government support on the innovation journey is important ... Addressing the Navy’s need for collaboration and connectivity ... Advanced sensors for UXO detection ... Scientifc sampling on the Arctic Sea ... ASW and unmanned undersea systems ... Service in support of oil spill emergencies in the Mediterranean ... Enabling advanced, autonomous in-ocean security networks ... Conference Previews: Clean Gulf and HYPACK.

October 2014, Volume 55, No. 10Visit our website at www.sea-technology.com for online versions of feature articles and news departments.

The editorial staff can be contacted at oceanbiz@sea-technology.com.

10 ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT USING THE SEDIMENT ECOTOXICITY ASSESSMENT RING Gunther Rosen (U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacifc), John Radford (Zebra-Tech Ltd.) and Chris Stransky (AMEC) describe applications for an integrative in-situ bioassay system.

15 HYDE GUARDIAN GOLD: THE EVOLUTION OF BALLAST WATER TREATMENT Mark Riggio (Hyde Marine Inc.) and Adrienne Fazio (Calgon Carbon Corp.) review how an improved system offers updates with a smaller footprint.

23 NEAR-REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF ALL AUSTRALIAN WATERS Dr. Magnus Wettle, Dr. Thomas Heege and Karin Schenk (EOMAP) discuss assessing water quality with satellites.

27 NEW TOOLS FOR WATER COLUMN FEATURE DETECTION, EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS Lindsay Gee (QPS Inc.), Lindsay McKenna (ERT Inc.) and Jonathan Beaudoin (QPS Canada) outline how FMMidwater interactively visualizes time-varying geospatial data.

33 AUVSI’S UNMANNED SYSTEMS PROGRAM REVIEW — Conference Preview

35 HIGH-RESOLUTION TUNNEL SURVEYS BY ROV Bob Clarke (ASI Group Ltd.) and Rick Fletcher (Pacifc Hydro Chile SA) explain the ASI ROV multibeam sonar system inspection of a hydroelectric infrastructure.

39 LIVE BROADCASTING OF DEEP-SEA HYDROTHERMAL VENTS Itaru Kawama (JAMSTEC) offers a look at how the Shinkai 6500 manned submersible transmitted images in real time from the seafoor.

43 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ANTI-FOULING SYSTEM FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT Victor Villagrán, Gadiel Alarcón and Oscar Pizarro (University of Concepción) discuss using a freshwater reserve to prevent colonization.

49 COLLABORATIVE ARCHAEOLOGY WITH NOAA SHIP OKEANOS EXPLORER

Kimberly L. Faulk (GEMS, Forum Energy Technologies) and Kelley P. Elliott (NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program) detail insights for the oil and gas industry.

55 OPTIMIZING FEED RATE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COLD CORROSION Dr. Steve Dye (Parker Kittiwake) describes constant real-time monitoring to prevent engine cylinder liner damage.

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ing laboratory-based testing methods. The device has also been shown to beneft investigations on the potential effects of resuspended contaminated sediments and is expected to be valuable toward assessment of the effects of underwater unexploded ordnance. It provides researchers and program managers with an alternative tool for informed decision making.

Developed jointly by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, California, the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan), AMEC (San Diego) and commercially available from Zebra-Tech Ltd. (Nelson, New Zealand), the array is robust and easy to

A new tool is available to help researchers and decision makers assess ecological risk in the marine environ-

ment.The Sediment Ecotoxicity Assessment Ring (SEA Ring) is

an in-situ toxicity and bioavailability assessment device. The readily deployable bioassay array allows the study of in-situ aqueous and sediment toxicity exposures in relatively con-trolled conditions. It also features integrated physiochemical and passive sampling capabilities.

The SEA Ring can be used for examining sediment qual-ity on site, and is particularly well-suited for assessing in-place sediment remedies that act to control bioavailability such as capping, sediment amendments and enhanced or natural attenuation. It is also applicable to the assessment of groundwater/surface-water interactions and stormwater quality, both of which are diffcult to assess accurately us-

Ecological Risk Assessment Using the Sediment Ecotoxicity Assessment RingApplications for an Integrative In-Situ Bioassay SystemBy Gunther Rosen • John Radford • Chris Stransky

(Left) SEA Ring deployment in shallow sediment at Quantico, Virginia, October 2012. (Right) Diver awaiting delivery of a SEA Ring for a sediment deployment at Quantico, Virginia, October 2012.

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tion of in-situ assessment technologies has been lim-ited by a lack of standard-ization and usability. With the exception of small-scale research projects, adoption of in-situ bioassays has been held back by a lack of con-fdence in experimental con-trol. Challenges with equip-ment durability, performance in harsh aquatic environ-ments and the complexity of their application have made implementation diffcult.

Standardization and im-provement in methodology combined with reliable, eas-ily deployable feld equip-ment is required to achieve

the level of quality control needed to gain broad accep-tance for regional-level studies or other regulatory programs. To achieve these goals, more than $2 million has been in-vested in the past six years to develop, refne and test the SEA Ring technology to over-come many of the challenges previously identifed for in-situ assessments.

Advantages of In-Situ Bioassays Using the SEA Ring

In the felds of ecological risk assessment and site re-mediation, in-situ bioassays have obvious advantages over

laboratory- based studies. At present, the bioavailability and toxicity of contami-nated sediments are most often assessed using grab or composite samples collect-ed in the feld and tested in a laboratory.

Although widely used, such an ap-proach does not accurately represent actual exposures and effects on organ-isms in the feld. A number of exposures and processes cannot be accurately re-produced in the laboratory with single grab samples, particularly with regard to time-varying stressors. For example, sediments in shallow bays and estuaries

are infuenced daily by tidal cycles, sediment disturbance and associated varying overlying water quality conditions.

The SEA Ring also flls a critical gap in assessing the suc-cess of existing and emerging in-place remedies, including traditional sand caps, amended caps, treatment barriers, surface sediment amendments and funnel/gate systems. In these situations, the in-situ interaction of the remedy with the contaminated sediment controls the exposure, making laboratory-based assessment impractical.

Other situations where in-situ testing is desirable include groundwater discharge zones where the exposure is only

use. The SEA Ring enables the study of aquatic organisms for both lethal and sublethal toxicological effects, as well as bioavailability in situ, using either organisms or passive sampling devices (or both) to assess contaminant bioaccu-mulation potential.

RationalePolicy makers, planners and researchers recognize that

an integrated approach is needed to create a more realistic and comprehensive assessment of contaminant, uptake and response. To date, however, acceptance and implementa-

(Top) Loading marine polychaetes into a SEA Ring chamber at Bremerton, Washington, August 2012. (Top Right) Recovered sediment cores following a 14-day deployment at Quantico, Virginia, Octo-ber 2012. (Middle Right) Investigating potential stormwater runoff impacts in the coastal water near Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, July 2014. (Bottom Right) Stormwater runoff impact assessment in pier areas at Naval Base San Diego, San Diego, California, March 2014. Kelp blades are visible inside the exposure chambers.

Sea Technology

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12 st / October 2014 www.sea-technology.com

present under feld conditions, under-water unexploded ordnance where the sources of exposure (i.e., leaking en-ergetic compounds) cannot be trans-ferred to the laboratory, or stormwater discharges where the exposure dura-tion is not consistent with typical static laboratory exposures.

Another challenge with laboratory testing is that the process of collect-ing, transporting and recreating envi-ronmental conditions in the labora-tory increases physical disturbance of sediment samples. This in turn, can affect contaminant characteristics and organism exposures. When sediment samples are taken, the bioavailability and toxicity of contaminants may be altered through processes like degra-dation, volatilization and redox chang-es. This can cause misleading results in the laboratory.

Toxicity from sediment-associated contaminants can also be overestimat-ed in the laboratory due to the buildup of contaminant concentrations in over-lying water as toxicants desorb from the sediment into the water column. The limitations of standard laboratory toxicity testing and chemical analyses can lead to potentially inappropriate

and costly management decisions. Despite the potential benefts, in-situ bioassays have often been limited in scope and practical usefulness in mak-ing decisions regarding ecological risk and remediation. Key limitations of previous approaches included a lack of standardization and an inability to provide an adequate level of quality control. To provide these capabilities, an integrated deployment system, the SEA Ring, was developed along with standardized methods and techniques for in-situ quality control. A patent is jointly held by researchers from the U.S. Navy and the University of Michi-gan.

Technical Features of the SEA RingThe SEA Ring’s rugged, durable de-

sign features an organism delivery de-vice, reliable water circulation system,

and a diverless deployment capability, allowing it to be used in a wide range of applications and aquatic environ-ments. The SEA Ring is suitable for a variety of exposure types, including sediments and the overlying water col-umn.

Integrated water quality sensors are used to measure a variety of physical parameters, including pH, tempera-ture, depth, salinity and conductivity. Dissolved oxygen from inside the ex-posure chambers provides a means of documenting system performance and quality during the deployment. It can also be used to support data interpreta-tion and assess potential confounding factors.

The SEA Ring consists of 10 cy-lindrical chambers fxed to a circular high-density plastic base, creating a ro-bust platform that can house an array of interchangeable test chamber types (depending on the desired test species and exposure type). Each chamber is supplied with ambient water via a programmable circulation pump. The stable platform can also be used to de-ploy additional supporting monitoring equipment and samplers.

A variety of different exposure chambers, depending on the species and exposure type, are mounted in the 10 chamber holders. This allows simul-taneous testing of multiple ecologi-cally relevant aquatic organisms. The interchangeable test chamber designs allow for exposure directly to the sedi-ment, to the sediment-water interface, or to the overlying water.

The fushing duration and frequency are software controlled. All pumping operations are internally logged and can be offoaded after retrieval. The unit is programmable to set desired turnover frequency with the ability to download diagnostic data to verify pump performance following deploy-ments. It is suitable for deployments of up to one month in duration. It is possible to visually monitor pump and battery status without disturbing cham-bers in situ.

“The SEA Ring is suitable for a variety of exposure types,

including sediments and the overlying water column.”

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Following deployment, small sedi-ment dwelling organisms can be in-troduced into the sediment chambers through the organism delivery port, which is built into the cap with a mod-ifed 30-cubic-centimeter plastic sy-ringe. The syringe is plugged with a sil-icone stopper inside the test chamber to retain the organisms until desired release. For larger organisms, a one-half-inch titanium mesh is integrated into the bottom opening of the expo-sure chamber, allowing organisms to be preloaded prior to deployment. Or-ganisms for sediment-water interface and water column exposures are pre-loaded just prior to deployment in fully enclosed fow-through test chambers.

Testing and VerifcationThe SEA Ring has undergone a

stringent United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Environ-mental Technology Verifcation (ETV) third-party testing program. The SEA Ring tests were evaluated for several performance criteria (i.e., across-test repeatability, intra-unit reproducibility and comparability in experiments) to verify the ability of the in-situ-based system to provide data comparable to traditional EPA and ASTM-approved methods. Though the SEA Ring is de-signed to conduct exposures in the feld, this study was designed to ensure that the device could provide the level of quality assurance and quality con-trol offered by laboratory tests given similar test conditions.

Field TrialsSeveral multidisciplinary feld dem-

onstration projects have been recently implemented using the latest version of the SEA Ring for in-situ bioaccumu-lation and toxicity assessments. These projects included a pre- and post-marine sediment remedy effectiveness evaluation at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton, Washington); a preremediation freshwater sediment remedy effectiveness evaluation at the Quantico Marine Corps Base (Chesa-peake Bay, Virginia), with post-evalua-tion studies planned for summer 2014; and a stormwater impact assessment in the receiving waters of San Diego Bay at Naval Base San Diego, Califor-nia.

In addition, the SEA Ring has been successfully used for ambient in-situ toxicity monitoring offshore of the University of California, San Diego’s

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in support of NPDES permit compliance monitoring for discharges to a marine Area of Special Biological Signifcance. The application of in-situ testing using the SEA Rings for SIO has been instrumental in helping to un-derstand the signifcance and cause of toxicity observed in concurrent grab samples tested in the laboratory.

AcknowledgmentsKey contributors toward the de-

velopment or testing of the SEA Ring technology include Dr. Bart Chadwick, Dr. Allen Burton, Dr. Marc Greenberg, Jon Groves, Joel Guerrero, Marienne Colvin, Adrienne Cibor and numerous others.

ReferencesFor a list of references, contact

Gunther Rosen at gunther.rosen@navy.mil. n

Gunther Rosen is a biologist with the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacifc in San Diego, California. He has multiple research interests in marine ecotoxicology. He holds a bach-elor’s degree in aquatic biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in aquaculture from Oregon State University.

John Radford is the founder and managing direc-tor of Zebra-Tech Ltd., a design and manufactur-ing company. He has taken a leading role in the successful development and commercialization of a range of instruments and equipment for environ-mental monitoring and fsheries. He holds a bach-elor’s degree in ecology from the University of East Anglia, U.K.

Chris Stransky leads the Aquatic Sciences Group at AMEC in San Diego, California. He oversees a wide variety of environmental programs with an empha-sis in toxicology, feld monitoring and regulatory support. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aquatic biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in ecology from San Diego State University.

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