Blue Abyss Reveals Designs of Its Future Deep-Water Test Facility

Designs of Blue Abyss, the multi-million pound subsea, Space and life science training, research and testing centre, have been revealed.

The facility, designed by Robin Partington, is estimated to cost more than £65 million.

It is said it will contain the world’s biggest training pool. At 50 metres deep with 41,000m3 volume complete with hyperbaric and hypobaric chambers, it will be capable of simulating challenging offshore environments.

With its poolside crane and opening roof, that allows up to 100-tonnes of equipment to be lifted and submerged into the pool, the expert team behind the facility is targeting the offshore renewables and oil and gas sectors as potential clients for training and testing for commercial diving, submersibles and drones.

The team behind Blue Abyss is currently said to be in talks with the offshore wind and oil & gas industries about how Blue Abyss facilities could support and accelerate innovation in the industry and help it to meet the demands for cost reduction across the sector.

Reportedly, Blue Abyss will be able to replicate the challenges of tidal, wave and current conditions in the Southern North Sea in a safe and controlled environment, offering multiple opportunities for simulation, cable connection training, submersibles training and testing for offshore wind installation, oil & gas work scopes, decommissioning solutions, deep sea diving and even drone training.

“The contained and controlled environment with pressure testing, is an ideal environment for research and development for subsea equipment, diver decompression and dry dives,” said Celia Anderson, of the Blue Abyss team.

“Our clients can simulate the ROV installation of J tubes and connecting cables, changing bearings at the base of a turbine tower… The list is endless.”

Blue Abyss is planned for completion and to be fully operational by the end of next year. The team is in the final stages of securing funding before seeking full planning consent for the site.

Photo: Blue Abyss