GEMS Survey Ltd. (GEMS) were contracted by Forewind Limited to undertake a bathymetric and geophysical survey of the Tranche A development area and two met mast locations (which were later revised) within the Dogger Bank Zone, in addition to a cable reconnaissance from Tranche A to the Yorkshire coastline. This survey was carried out between 8 July 2010 and 26 December 2010. The primary objectives of the survey were to produce sufficiently high resolution bathymetric and geophysical data and interpretations to allow regional interpretation for planning and modelling purposes; for met mast design to commence and to provide high quality data to inform further benthic and environmental surveys. GEMS supplied interpreted datasets compatible with ESRI ArcGIS software. The GIS data included bathymetry, sidescan sonar mosaics, seabed features, sediments and obstructions.

Gardline Geosurvey Limited was contracted by Forewind Limited to survey the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Area between 04-Apr-2013 and 02-Aug-2013; work was undertaken on the inter project cable route corridors, the Tranche C zonal survey and the Met Mast West. The aim of the surveys was to carry out a geophysical investigation that would broadly assess the entire developable area of the zone and route. Seabed information was required in order to inform the site selection process and enable preliminary foundation design to be undertaken. The geological data acquisition programme was carried out on M.V. Sea Surveyor, which sailed from Hull and returned to Blyth upon completion of survey operations and M.V. Vigilant which sailed from Great Yarmouth and to where they returned upon completion of survey operations. This dataset is MBES (MultiBeamEchoSounder) data obtained using a Simrad EM710. Processed using Caris HIPS and SIPS 7.1 to produce a digital terrain model (dtm) of the bathymetric surface. Available in the following format: 1) xyz - space delimited text file of gridded bathymetry. Data stored as: Column One: Easting Column Two: Northing Column Three: Water Depth 2) Ungridded Soundings - space delimited text file of the 'point cloud' of MBES soundings. Data stored as: Column One: Easting Column Two: Northing Column Three: Water Depth 3) Arc ASCII grid - raster text file of gridded bathymetry.

The Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS) was commissioned by Forewind Ltd to carry out a Phase 1 biotope survey of the intertidal zone located between the towns of Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea, Tees estuary, Teesside. This area has been identified as a preferred landfall location for export cables, with the ultimate aim of connecting offshore wind farms off the Teesside coastline to the National Grid. The intertidal survey was completed as part of the development of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) required from Forewind Ltd to continue with the proposal to use this area as a landfall site.

Envision have undertaken a biological interpretation of the geophysical data from Tranche A and Creyke Beck Export Cable Route. The strategy for this interpretation was to integrate sample records and the geophysical remotely sensed images to produce distribution maps. This follows the strategy that has been established within the EU through the MESH program. The primary purpose of analysis was to derive a limited range of habitat classes suitable for ground truthing the acoustic data, which were adopted as the mapping units. The requirements for successful ground truthing are not exactly the same as describing diversity. There has been more emphasis on commonality and potential for overlap between the mapping units. The analyses identified a small number of robust classes from the infauna defined by their predominant species and those that contributed most to the classes distinctiveness. Information on epifauna and gravel/cobble were incorporated to derive a single ground truth dataset Suitable ground truth data assigned to habitat classes is vital for integrated analysis and this necessitated Envision undertaking the analysis of the sample records to derive a locally relevant list of habitat classes. The analyses identified a small number of robust classes from the infauna defined by their predominant species and those that contributed most to the classes distinctiveness. Information on epifauna and gravel/cobble were incorporated to derive a single ground truth dataset The faunal composition of these groups were then matched to the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland (v04.05) and a suite of possible biotopes assigned to the ground truth data. The geophysical data required processing and transformation to render the images suitable for integrated analysis. The analyses have been reported and the full list of habitat classes described. The interpretation of the geophysical data through integrated analysis with the ground truth data has been reported and the habitat class distribution map has been presented. Surficial sediments were identified from the still images and classified. These data have been used to ground truth the geophysical images and a map has been generated. The distribution of the habitats is discussed. The biota is typical of moderately exposed (moderately disturbed) gravelly sandy sediments in the North Sea. Although all the habitats can be considered components of Annex 1 Subtidal Sandbanks, there are no biotopes of particular sensitivity and, although Sabellaria spinulosa was found, the densities of individuals in samples was never very high and it is unlikely that any sample sites could be classified as biogenic reef.