Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has awarded Fugro a multi-year framework agreement to carry out geotechnical site investigations in the North Sea, with fieldwork scheduled to start in March 2027.
The agreement covers geotechnical data acquisition using specialist drilling and seabed cone penetration testing (CPT) vessels, as well as laboratory testing of the collected samples. As the contracting authority, BSH can commission services under the framework from the date of its award.
Fugro will conduct the laboratory work at facilities in Germany, Belgium and the UK, with the programme delivered through its marine operations in the Netherlands and Germany. Preparations for the programme are already underway, the company said.
The investigations will provide information on seabed and subsurface conditions to support project planning and reduce development risks. The data and laboratory results will be used by future offshore wind developers during the tendering and development stages.
The Dutch survey specialist previously carried out a similar multi-year geotechnical investigation programme for BSH after securing a contract in 2021. The work also covered offshore wind development areas in the German North Sea and included data acquisition from geotechnical drilling and seabed testing vessels, followed by laboratory testing and reporting.
The company has also undertaken other site characterisation work for offshore wind development in Germany. In 2023, BSH awarded Fugro a geophysical survey contract for two areas in the German exclusive economic zone, while in 2025, the company secured geophysical and geotechnical investigation contracts for RWE and TotalEnergies’ Windbostel Ost and Windbostel West projects.
The new framework agreement in Germany comes shortly after Fugro secured a contract with Cadeler to carry out post-installation seabed surveys at the 960 MW East Anglia Two offshore wind farm in the UK.