GBM Works takes a major step in developing silent offshore pile-driving technology with data tooling as the foundation

Installing wind turbines with limited underwater noise may seem like a distant dream. Yet, this is exactly what GBM Works is achieving with its groundbreaking Vibrojet® technology. By using vibrations and water jetting (instead of traditional piling methods), the company addresses one of the biggest challenges in offshore wind energy: noise pollution affecting marine life during the installation of foundation piles.
In collaboration with MSA-Service and their data acquisition platform, Multiped, the first large-scale tests are now underway. Lead Operations Engineer Siemen Dasselaar shares insights into two crucial research projects: SIMOX and SIMPLE III. 
With advanced data analysis at the core of this research, GBM Works proves that silent piling is no longer just an idea. It’s a reality. Let’s find out how exactly. 

From simulation to innovation

With a background in research and product development, Dasselaar brings valuable expertise to GBM Works. "Before joining GBM Works, I worked on product development of dredging vessels and deep-sea mining," he explains. "That experience is now proving valuable in developing our Vibrojet® technology. Over the past years, we have completely redefined the approach to installing foundation piles." At GBM Works, Dasselaar leads the testing phases within product development of the Vibrojet® technology.

A revolutionary technology in action

The core of this innovation lies in the unique application of water and vibrations. "Instead of forcefully hammering a pile into the seabed, we use water and vibrations," Dasselaar explains. "We create within the monopile a fluid mixture that allows us to work with fluid resistance rather than soil resistance. By adding vertical vibrations, we can install the pile much more quietly.
A major advantage is that bubble curtains, traditionally used to dampen underwater noise, are no longer needed. Additionally, this method reduces steel usage in construction, potentially lowers CO₂ emissions, and achieves a deeper "Target Depth" than if the Vibro-hammer was used alone. This is the depth at which the pile reaches the desired penetration.”

Two projects, one goal

The effectiveness of Vibrojet® technology is being tested in two key projects. The SIMOX project, for example, brought together a consortium of leading companies to compare various innovative installation techniques.
"We’re not just looking at the installation process," Dasselaar explains. "We’re also studying how the piles behave under different lateral loads to determine whether monopiles installed with this technology can last for decades."
Alongside SIMOX, the SIMPLE III project represents the final test phase before commercial application. "With a 55-meter test pile, we’re now truly going deep," Dasselaar says. "This is the moment where we prove that our technology works at full scale."

The search for reliable data acquisition

The complexity of these tests requires advanced measurement methods. "In such an innovative project, everything depends, amongst others, on accurate and reliable data," Dasselaar emphasizes. "We work with a wide range of sensors, such as high-frequency accelerometers, pressure-, flow-, strain sensors."
This need led GBM Works to MSA-Service and their Multiped platform. "We evaluated various systems, but Multiped stood out due to its combination of flexibility and ease of use," Dasselaar says. 

"The system integrates well into our setup and provides an accessible web interface for both data logging and storage. We can work with different sampling rates: up to 1 kHz." An additional advantage was the flexible rental model. "The ability to rent the system aligns with the dynamic nature of our work."
"We had worked with MSA-Service before, and because that collaboration proved successful, we selected them for our most important and challenging project."

Flexibility as a key factor in research

"MSA-Service understands that in this type of research, the context can change rapidly," says Dasselaar. "They apply their expertise flexibly and actively contribute to practical solutions."

The Multiped platform offers configurable dashboards for different users, from observers to operators, ensuring that everyone has access to the right information.
The combined strength of innovative monopile installation technology and intelligent data logging is proving its value. "The combination of our Vibrojet® technology with Multiped’s data logging capabilities gives us crucial insights," Dasselaar continues. "We can now see what’s happening in real time, comparable to “underground eyes”, which enhances our research and improves the quality of our results."

A future of quieter monopile installation is within reach

The question of whether silent piling is possible is coming closer to a definitive answer. The unique collaboration between GBM Works’ innovative installation technology and MSA-Service’s advanced data processing brings the offshore wind industry a step closer to achieving this goal.