MOSES block attracting fish in KeniaCovered MOSES block at BrouwersdamSPECTERWhile the biodegradable reef is stillwaiting, Dijkstra and De Bont are busywith their other innovations. They havedesigned SPECTER, a multi-layeredhanging case that can be attached to damwalls below the waterline. In it, nativeaquatic plants are placed in burlap sacks.After a season, the roots of the plants growthrough the sacks and attach themselves tothe case. The hanging cases serve as hidingplaces for fish, which in turn is good forfish migration. The innovation is in linewith the EU Water Framework Directive interms of water quality and biodiversity. Theinnovation is being tested at five sites and,if proven successful, is an ideal product forwater authorities.First large-scale commercialproject with MOSESWith the MOSES system, ReefSystems isalready well on the way. The first systeminstalled in Zeeland proved to be a success.Within a year it was already completelycovered with aquatic vegetation andattracting underwater species. When themen moved into Prodock they were askedby the Port of Amsterdam if they couldalso install it in the Noordzeekanaal. Theythat function as artificial reefs. They wereawarded the contract by contractorHeijmans and engineering firm Arcadis.The installation will take place in the firstweek of November. The structures will bespread over a number of kilometers andmonitored for two years by researchersfrom two universities. The monitoringshould show what works best and is costeffective,after which a decision will bemade whether to extend the project alongnine kilometers of dike. Production isalready in full swing.Large-scale production andtesting at DeltaresIn August, a new machine was put intooperation. A mechanical engineer designeda semi-automatic mould. With the newacquisition, large-scale production is nowpossible. Previously this was limited to fivestructures per day. The new machine, andrelated increased production capacity,allows ReefSystems to offer the productmore cheaply.In the meantime, the company is alsodeveloping a new connecting system. DeBont: “Up to now we glue theconstructions together with marine epoxy.‘By linking the system to another function such as protectionagainst erosion at the base of a wind turbine or as an ecologicaladd-on for anchoring systems, a win-win situation is created’no longer dictate that the structure must beremoved along with the wind turbine afterx-number of years. “If the artificial reefsupports nature development in windfarms, then leave it in place. If you removethe reef you will destroy everything,” saysDijkstra. “Encourage wind farms tobecome multifunctional aquaculture,where seaweed, oysters and mussels can begrown and fish attracted. This will create aspill-over effect of kilometers around thewind farm. The fishing industry thenbenefits from that as well.”Moreover, by linking the system to anotherfunction such as protection against erosionat the base of a wind turbine or on asubmarine cable or as an ecological add-onfor anchoring systems in, for example,seaweed production or floating solar parkswithin wind farms, a win-win situation iscreated for everyone.RecyclingAlthough the innovations of Dijkstra en DeBont contribute to the absorption of CO2,it is also important for the men to make theproduction process as CO2-neutral aspossible. They have been working with asmany recycled materials as possible fromthe start. They are also working withconcrete experts to increase CO2 neutralityby working with bio-cement. Dijkstra:“R&D is important to us, by continuing toinnovate we can keep sustainability high.”selected three locations. Meanwhile thereef blocks are also being applied inPanama (in partnership with Boskalis andother parties) and Kenya, as substrate fornew reef in places where the old reef hasbeen destroyed or damaged.This summer they also won their firstcommercial contract for the MOSESsystem. For a combination project of dikereinforcement and biodiversity stimulationnear Lauwersoog on the Wadden Sea,ReefSystems will install thirteen structuresWith the new moulds we are alsointroducing a new connecting system.By using a bolt-nut system we canguarantee that the connections will be ableto withstand storms. We will test thestability and strength of our structures incooperation with TU Delft at Deltares’wave test facilities.”Win-win situationActually, the more permanent MOSESsystem could just as well be used for windfarms, both agree. At least, if regulationsThe men realize that with their mission tocreate products that enhance biodiversitythey have not chosen the easiest path,because nature itself obviously does notpay. Fortunately they can tell that there isgrowing consciousness that people alsobenefit from more biodiversity and thatthere is now a need for this. In combinationwith another function such as dykereinforcement, breakwater, anchoring,erosion protection and so on, there is, asmentioned earlier with wind farms,ultimately a win-win situation foreveryone.•42 | 01-2021
4-8 april 2022Egmond aan ZeeThe Netherlandswww.CWW2022.orgHosted by Bureau Waardenburg and the Dutch governmentCall for Abstracts now open!1 December 2021T +31(0)72 8009989info@brandmarion.comwww.brandmarion.com
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