SOCOTEC Becomes First UK Company to Gain MMO Accreditation for Marine Sediment Testing

The new certification sees SOCOTEC’s environmental chemistry laboratory join the ranks of two Ex-Government facilities approved by the MMO – an executive non-departmental public body for DEFRA which regulates marine activity in the waters around Britain.

The majority of marine sediment works require approval from the MMO, and SOCOTEC is now validated to test for: trace Metals; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs); Petroleum Hydrocarbon (THC); Organotin compounds and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in marine sediments.

These services are often required by harbour authorities, ports, windfarms, universities and other bodies seeking accurate information relating the contamination of a seabed by environmental pollutants. The new accreditation will complement SOCOTEC’s existing UKAS accreditation, and proven experience operating in the Quality Assurance for Marine Environmental Monitoring (QUASIMEME) scheme.

To test for environmental pollutants in sediment, SOCOTEC uses advanced analytical techniques that includes gas chromatography coupled with single and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS & GC-MSMS) and Inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). SOCOTEC’s technical capabilities and expertise mean that its laboratory specialists can identify the specific marine pollutants with extreme accuracy at ultra-low levels.

David Ratcliffe, business development manager at SOCOTEC, commented: “This MMO accreditation is the result of our determination and perseverance to create a more open and accessible market for marine services. Our customers that require advanced marine sediment analysis can expect to benefit from our comprehensive array of robust laboratory tests, as well as streamlined analysis processes and faster turnaround times.”

”We already work with a wide range of clients in the marine industry and this new certification will undoubtedly result in our growth within the sector, as well as additional scope to generate more jobs at SOCOTEC.”