Through evidence synthesis, robust social science, advanced stakeholder engagement and immersive 3D visualisation, READ-ME aims to document the diverse attitudes and perceptions towards the decommissioning of Marine Artificial Structures (MAS), crucial knowledge for guiding sustainable ocean management and future policy choices.
The project will tackle the complex challenge of understanding public and stakeholder attitudes concerning the decommissioning of oil and gas platforms, offshore wind farms, their associated infrastructure, and the management of shipwrecks in the North Sea. The vision is to deliver comprehensive, transparent and impactful research that provides an evidence-based and stakeholder-informed foundation for policy development and marine governance.
The approach to this research will include:
Building on novel research development, READ-ME aims to enhance traditional survey techniques -with immersive 3D models and interactive geo-visualisations. These advanced visual tools, developed by researchers based at the National Decommissioning Centre (NDC) , will allow stakeholders to visualise complex MAS decommissioning scenarios and support their understanding of the intricate environmental, economic and social trade-offs involved.
Look out for the READ-ME industry showcase event in 2026, to be held at the NDC, alongside communication and outreach tools to share findings with wider audiences, facilitating knowledge transfer.
The outputs from READ-ME are set to generate evidence-based insights to inform strategic decommissioning decisions at both individual asset and policy levels and supporting a wider just transition approach. The project will work collaboratively with the INSITE programme and the Value of Marine Artificial Structures (ValMAS) project.
We need your valuable input to help create environmentally responsible and socially accepted decommissioning pathways for the North Sea and beyond. Follow us to find out when the public survey launches!
Take part in the public survey – The project team will be gathering views from up to 1,000 people on attitudes and trade-offs around Marine Artificial Structure (MAS) decommissioning.
Join the key stakeholder group -Stakeholders and community representatives may be invited to join a two-stage Delphi study, combining online surveys and focus groups, to help shape shared understanding and preferences around decommissioning options.
Join the READ-ME mailing list – Sign up to our mailing list to be notified when the online survey launches.
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