CMS GeoScience delivers major high-resolution geophysical survey for ABP Southampton

CMS GeoScience have announced the successful completion of a major geophysical survey in Southampton, which supports future port development and navigational maintenance activities for Associated British Ports (ABP).

Operating within one of the UK’s busiest and most strategically important shipping corridors, their team mapped the seabed and subsurface conditions across a vast survey area extending from the Main Channel and The Solent to the Nab Channel.

Working in close coordination with Southampton Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and ABP, CMS GeoScience safely acquired, processed, and interpreted a comprehensive suite of high-resolution datasets within a live commercial port environment.

The company’s geophysical survey programme saw them successfully utilise their extensive in-house capabilities, which combined high-resolution Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) bathymetric surveys, Side-Scan Sonar (SSS) seabed imaging, Sub-Bottom Profiler (SBP) shallow seismic investigations and subsequent geological and geomorphological interpretation.

Through rigorous survey planning and continuous quality control, CMS GeoScience delivered high-resolution datasets that provided high-quality geomorphological assessments across key navigation channels and operational areas. The quality of the multibeam and side-scan sonar data enabled detailed mapping of active sediment transport pathways, sand ripples, sand wave development, and overall dredged channel morphology alongside historical dredge footprints. Furthermore, the team successfully identified scour features associated with marine infrastructure, tracked distinct areas of sediment accumulation and erosion, and pinpointed seabed obstructions and anthropogenic debris.

Using sub-bottom profiler data, the subsurface was successfully imaged to assess potential geohazards and structural constraints, including buried palaeochannels, shallow gas indicators, and complex sedimentary transitions.

This work shows how committed CMS GeoScience is to strengthening their capabilities for the Ports and Harbours sector.

Because the Port of Southampton accommodates some of the largest container vessels, cruise ships, tankers, and Ro-Ro vessels in the world, these geophysical findings provide the critical baseline data required to ensure long-term maritime safety. The final data package delivers essential insights that directly support modern navigation channel management, capital and maintenance dredging design, vessel manoeuvrability assessments, and highly accurate under-keel clearance calculations.

This project highlights CMS GeoScience’s ability to provide fully integrated geophysical, hydrographic, and data interpretation solutions for major ports and marine infrastructure operators.
CMS GeoScience thanks key stakeholders, including the port authorities, VTS, and their multidisciplinary team for delivering the project safely, accurately, and efficiently, resulting in highly positive feedback and subsequent project extensions.