Underwater sound DEMASK
The DEMASK project aims to develop and test policy scenarios for continuous underwater noise in the North Sea. Through measurements, the project investigates to what extent anthropogenic noise sources contribute to underwater noise and what impact this has on the marine ecosystem. WaterProof contributed by conducting underwater sound measurements in the Dutch North Sea.
- Client: Rijkswaterstaat
- Location: North Sea (near Texel)
- Project period: March till December 2025
The EU Interreg DEMASK project (Defining and Evaluating Management Scenarios to Keep the North Sea soundscape healthy) aims to develop and test policy scenarios for continuous underwater noise in the North Sea. The project included dedicated measurements to attain more insight in underwater sound levels in the North Sea. WaterProof was contracted by Rijkswaterstaat to conduct measurements at a location 50 km Northwest of the Island of Texel, at the same location that was used by WaterProof for the EU Interreg Jomopans project between 2018 and 2020. These measurements are used to attain more insight in the long-term trend in underwater sound levels and to quantify the contribution of sound sources other than vessels.
As part of this project, WaterProof took the initiative to organise a calibration workshop with all DEMASK project partners. Good calibration of hydrophones is critical to collect measurements that are accurate and comparable. During this workshop the partners also discussed the design of mooring setups, calibration strategies in the field and standardisation in data processing.
More information about the project can be found at interregnorthsea.eu/demask
Take a look at our other projects
Research into Scour Pits
Offshore wind farms use different types of foundations depending on the site conditions. The most commonly used foundation types are monopiles, gravity-based structures and jacket foundations. In collaboration with Leo van Rijn, WaterProof investigated the expected dimensions of scour pits around offshore wind turbine foundations. The study combined physical scale experiments carried out in WaterProof’s flow and sediment basin with numerical modelling.
Underwater Sound in the Wadden Sea
In the Wadden Sea, we measure underwater sound generated by different types of vessels to better understand its effects on this unique ecosystem. There is still limited knowledge about sound propagation in very shallow water in particular. By measuring sound at carefully selected locations – from intertidal flats to deeper channels – we gain insight into how far sound can travel through the Wadden Sea and what role different vessels play in this.
Impact of EMF and Underwater Sound on Harbour Porpoises
Export cables are used to connect offshore wind farms to onshore substations, from where the electricity is fed into the national power grid. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are generated around buried export cables as a result of the electrical current flowing through them. These EMF may potentially affect marine life. The magnitude of these fields and their potential impact are still largely unknown. We therefore work with several partners on different measurement and research projects to better understand and assess these effects. Research into the potential relationship between EMF and harbour porpoise presence within the Borssele offshore wind farm is one example.
