Big Testing Basin In Norway Built At Cost Of $25 Million

Construction of the Ocean Environment Basin (shown above) in Trondheim, Norway is nearing completion. Total building expenditures for the basin, which has been under construction for more than two years, will amount to approximately $25 million. By means of this basin, the research consortium Otter hopes to compete in the front rank for the testing of offshore structures.

The Ocean Environment Basin measures 80 by 50 meters (262.5 by 164 feet), with a depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet). It is primarily the great depth, together with Otter's experience, that it is hoped will put the basin in a leading market position. Because of the basin's depth, testing conditions for real depths down to 500 meters (1,640.4 feet) can be simulated in the scale 1:50. This means that the Norwegians will be able to perform model testing for offshore structures designed for far greater depths than has so f ar been possible on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The Ocean Environment Basin has a movable bottom, which makes it possible to vary the depth, depending on each test. Both sides of the basin are equipped with advanced wave machinery that can create realistic wave conditions.

The length of the basin is equipped with 144 separate flaps, making it possible to generate short-crested waves. Furthermore, special cleaning equipment will make it possible to simulate oil recovery operations. It will also be possible to conduct tests for new kinds of energy production from the sea.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 29, May 1981

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.