Artificial Reef cube for subsea protection

Our original flagship artificial reef product with over 10 years continuous research and development. Utilising an exceptionally detailed nature inclusive design it leverages 3D printing across the range to specifically target the growth of local fish, crustaceans, corals and kelp/ seaweed species. Available in a variety of sizes from 15cm3 to 2m3 with customisable textured finishes and adjustable passageway sizes. This model is our most popular design for use in all artificial reef and scour protective requirements.

By leveraging the modularity of Reef cubes and connecting them together ARC marine can utilise smaller structures which are key for certain species and create elaborate shapes which are not only stable but can penetrate higher into the water column and therefore impact a greater number of species from benthic to pelagic species. From an operational perspective this allows us to create smaller structures which are easier to manufacture, handle and transport but then once combined you get the mass required for stability and the volume needed to make a productive reef system.

Near identical to the original design, it contains all the original features but has the added benefit of incorporated rock pools to the top and sides. The bottom passageway has also been blocked with a rock pool in the base of the reef cube. Available only in the larger models for stability reasons – it provides further shelters and habitats for a variety of additional marine life to take refuge and create homes in these areas.

In particular – these rock pool features are designed for tidal regions where the cubes may not be fully submerged at all times. This provides continuously pooled areas for the use and growth of certain species.

Made up of primarily RC150’s and RC350’s, with custom sizes available on a project-by-project basis. These Reef cubes replace traditional rock for scour protection and can be deployed using standard industry side dump or flexible fall pipe vessels to the base of the foundation. The aim is to replace imported granite rock with a locally made, low carbon habitat enhancing technology that not only meets the requirements from an engineering perspective but also ensure compliance to non-priced criteria and company CSR goals.

ARC marine completed a 2.5-year R&D project with RWE to design, build deploy and monitor 88,000 Reef cubes installed around a single turbine at an operational wind farm in the UK.  Over the next few years their effectiveness and biodiversity gains will be compared to foundations with rock protection and foundations with no subsea protection to understand the value NID can have at scale around offshore application.