In February 2025, an attempt was made to deploy the SFT; however, it ultimately failed due to a malfunction in the old mooring system. As a result, the SFT is currently not in the wind farm and is expected to be installed in early 2026.
The installation of the Shellfish Tower (SFT) in early 2025 faced significant challenges, resulting in an unsuccessful deployment. In response, we undertook comprehensive modifications to the mooring system and developed an innovative anchor stone over the subsequent months. With these improvements, the SFT is poised for a new deployment in early 2026, where it will transport baskets of European oysters (Ostrea edulis), currently being kept at Helgoland. In a parallel effort, our collaboration with Aarhus University has led to the seeding of twines with spores of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima). These twines are designed to be deployed as a single mooring system within the wind farm, also planned for early 2026. This initiative aims to explore the aquaculture potential of sugar kelp, allowing us to assess how this vital species thrives under offshore conditions. Continuing our efforts to collect data, we have been meticulously measuring the abiotic conditions within the wind farm using sophisticated technologies such as the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and a wave rider buoy. These instruments, deployed in partnership with HEREON, will yield critical data about the environmental dynamics of the wind farm, including wave patterns, current flows, and temperature variations. This information is essential for understanding the ecosystem and optimizing the conditions for our aquaculture initiatives.