2025 marked one of OSC’s strongest scientific years, with nine peer-reviewed publications. This remarkable work investigates underwater acoustics, marine mammal ecology, offshore energy operations, and nature-in-design reef concepts, reflecting OSC’s long-standing commitment to delivering world-leading science for the offshore industry, regulators, and the wider academic community.
For more than 20 years, OSC has been unique in its ability to bridge the gap between operational offshore experience and scientific research. This year’s publications demonstrate how industry-generated data, when analysed by specialists, can deliver insights that benefit the entire offshore ecosystem. Together, these studies demonstrate OSC’s commitment to producing science that is both academically rigorous and directly applicable to real-world offshore operations.
Delivering real scientific value to industry
OSC’s research is grounded in authentic offshore operational data, ensuring that every scientific insight is directly applicable to real industry environments, including seismic surveys, drilling operations, and windfarm piling campaigns, among others.
Our seismic-response study, A duck’s beak with porpoise: sightings of cetaceans during and after a 3D seismic survey in the German North Sea, provides rare empirical evidence of cetacean behaviour around full-scale seismic operations. In addition, Importance and challenges of offshore platforms and rig data in acoustic monitoring studies: a case study on harbour porpoises explores how autonomous C-POD echolocation detectors can be used to monitor harbour porpoise activity around offshore rigs and production platforms, while Suitability of assessing population-level impact from construction of a single wind farm – a case study on North Sea harbour porpoises applies iPCoD and DEPONS models to assess how disturbance translates to population consequences. Together with Source levels of an acoustic harassment device system on an operational Scottish salmonid farm, these studies offer a multi-industry perspective on acoustic disturbance and marine mammal responses.
OSC also broadened understanding of offshore soundscapes. The Soundscape and fish passive acoustic monitoring around a North Sea gas-production platform in the Dogger Bank provides one of the most detailed acoustic profiles of a working gas platform, revealing interactions between industrial noise and fish biological activity.
Nature-inclusive design and decommissioning science were also advanced through A new rewilding paradigm: NEBA-CA case study of an end-of-life North Sea oil platform, which documents the biodiversity, maturity, and ecological function of communities colonising long-standing offshore structures, offering evidence to inform future decommissioning decisions.
Additional contributions include, Assessing mooring designs for improved acoustic monitoring of harbour porpoise in the German Borkum Riffgrund, North Sea, Ultrasonic acoustic emissions as indicators of tree drought stress in outdoor forest settings: testing the concept using cut saplings, and Stridulation-like behaviour in the Red Wood ant (Formica rufa), highlighting OSC’s wider scientific versatility and expertise in acoustic detection.
Leading academic contributions
Despite being embedded in commercial offshore operations, we continue to operate at the cutting edge of academic research. Publishing nine scientific papers in a single year is rarely seen in the private sector, and it underscores the company’s dedication to advancing marine science beyond traditional consultancy outputs.
Together these papers deliver new insights across a broad spectrum of marine ecological science. They advance understanding of marine mammal behavioural ecology, explore artificial reef development on end-of-life offshore platforms, examine source levels of ADDs, and model population-level consequences of cumulative disturbances.
By sharing findings openly, we ensure that future researchers, universities, and regulators can benefit from our expertise and methodologies.
A stronger future for evidence-based offshore operations
2025 has highlighted that both good science and industry practice go hand in hand. The more we understand about how marine life interacts with anthropogenic activities, whether during operations such as seismic surveys, drilling, offshore construction, or aquaculture, the more effectively we can design operations that balance energy production with environmental responsibility.
As the energy sector continues to expand, including record growth in offshore wind, OSC remains committed to supporting clients with the highest standards of scientific evidence, peer-reviewed research, and technical excellence.
In addition to our peer-reviewed research outputs, 2025 also saw OSC successfully host the OSC Conference 2025 at the National Museum of Scotland. The event brought together scientists, regulators, offshore operators, and environmental practitioners to share evidence, experience, and practical insights for managing challenges in offshore environments. The conference highlighted the role of robust science in supporting responsible offshore operations.
Further information about the conference is available at: https://oscconference2025.events.kdmeventsportal.co.uk/
We thank our clients, collaborators, and academic partners for contributing to the success of these studies. Together, we advance the science that shapes the future of our oceans.
A full list of OSC’s publications is available at: https://www.osc.co.uk/publications-and-press-covers/
Further updates, publications and training opportunities will be shared on www.osc.co.uk/news/.
