Industry Experts

We are one of the most experienced commercial
marine archaeological teams globally

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Offshore Experience

We are proud to partner with major
industry leaders across the globe

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Stress-free Compliance

We are experts in discharging regulatory constraints
and offering planning security for your projects

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We're here to effectively manage the historic environment on your marine development schemes.

We are the Rostock-based EU branch of the global leader in the provision of heritage services, Wessex Archaeology. Our business area is underwater archaeology, mainly in coastal and offshore areas, but also in rivers and lakes. We are highly specialized experts in this field.

We offer practical advice and targeted, data-driven solutions at all stages of a scheme, from pre-planning and scoping through to post-construction monitoring. We are experts in discharging archaeological planning constraints, to help your schemes progress on time and to budget.

Our Offshore experience

Over the past 15 years, our involvement in offshore development schemes places us at the forefront of the sector and we are proud to partner with industry leaders across the globe.

For large projects, we involve the global, multidisciplinary team of our parent company Wessex Archaeology. We have already realised a wide range of challenging projects together, from offshore wind farms to transnational interconnectors and gas pipelines to the salvage and relocation of entire shipwrecks.

To date, we have delivered over two-thirds of all marine development projects in UK waters, demonstrating our track record as market leaders.

A look behind the scenes: Get to know us and what we do for you

Our Team

Our Team

Our multi-disciplinary team has over 15 years’ market-leading experience in managing archaeological risk in all areas of marine offshore and nearshore development, including renewables, cables, pipelines, dredging, ports and harbours, and wreck investigation.

With over 300 industry experts, we are one of the largest commercial archaeological teams globally and ready to deliver every project from the smallest assessment to the largest and most challenging schemes.

Our clients benefit from the significant experience, expertise and capacity provided by our international team.

How do we fit in?

The regulatory framework

Developments within the Baltic and North Seas are subject to regulatory constraints regarding impacts on the marine historic environment and any potential archaeological remains.

The protection of underwater cultural heritage is enshrined in law on a broad basis, from international maritime law to EU conventions to national laws and regional regulations. This applies to all EU member states and more or less to most other countries worldwide.

In obtaining leases for offshore projects, developers must consider and mitigate the effect of their activity on potential historic resources within the project area. The individual situation depends on where the construction project is located: directly on the coast, in the territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles or even further out in the exclusive economic zone of a country? In each area there is a different intersection of laws and responsibilities. We know all the interrelationships and can therefore help our customers to get their projects smoothly through the consent process.

We prove through our investigations and expert reports that our clients are fulfilling their obligation to protect the cultural heritage under water. This offers our customers planning security for their projects. Our investigations show whether and to what extent archaeological finds are to be expected in the planning area, and we draw up concrete, data-supported proposals on how the cultural assets under water can be optimally protected with the least possible effort.

Would you like to know more?

Our webinar offers an introduction to the legal framework for protecting marine cultural heritage on offshore developments.

During the webinar, General Manager Ralph Behr will guide you through the framework in Germany, and how to get your developments smoothly through this specific regulatory process. While the presentation describes the regulatory process in Germany, most procedures in the EU follow the same or very similar steps.

Get a quick overview?

Our downloads provide an overview of our company and our projects, the regulatory framework for protecting marine cultural heritage, and our services to support you in this process.

Contact our team today

  +49 381 77999999

Have Questions?

What is the business area of Trident Archäologie?

Our business area is underwater archaeology, mainly in coastal and offshore areas, but also in rivers and lakes. We are highly specialised and therefore experts in this field. On customer request, we also take on additional tasks from neighbouring areas of archaeology, but for this we then work together with experienced partners whom we trust.

Why do our clients need our services?

In all projects in the territorial sea and the adjoining exclusive economic zone, the protection of cultural heritage under water is just as anchored in law as it is in construction projects on land. We prove to the client through our investigations and expert reports that he is fulfilling this obligation, thus ensuring that both the approval process and the subsequent construction phase run smoothly.

Where does Trident Archäologie operate?

Our focus is on the countries bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, with the exception of Great Britain and Ireland - our parent company Wessex Archeology would be responsible here. However, we also see potential for the future on the Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean, and if someone should have an interesting project somewhere else in the world, we will also find a customer-friendly solution thanks to our international network.

How about the procedure after a commission?

That depends entirely on the project and its current status. However, it always starts with a careful assessment of the situation together with the client and the relevant authorities. Then we create a concept that takes both sides into account and provides planning security for the customer. The further steps then depend entirely on the respective project and can be very different.

What are the advantages of our work for the customer?

First and foremost, planning security for the client's projects. Our investigations show the client whether and to what extent archaeological finds are to be expected in the planning area, and we create concrete, data-supported suggestions as to how the cultural property can be optimally protected under water with the least possible effort.
In addition, interesting archaeological finds are always ideally suited to publicise the project and underline the social responsibility of one's own company.

What role does Trident Archäologie play in the planning process?

The earlier we are involved in the planning process, the better. If archaeological investigations are planned early enough in the project, all related risks can be eliminated long before the actual construction work begins, and the costs for this also remain manageable.
If, on the other hand, the authorities stop work on site in the worst case because, for example, a previously undiscovered medieval shipwreck was damaged during dredging, then it becomes expensive because the special ships cannot continue or have to be rescheduled, resulting in delays and additional work.
Fortunately, this can easily be avoided through our early involvement in the planning process.

When should we be involved?

Engaging early with regulators and stakeholders reduces development risk and facilitates cost-effective decision making. Trident can help you through this process.
The earlier we are involved in the planning process, the better. If archaeological investigations are planned early enough in the project, all related risks can be eliminated long before the actual construction work begins, and the related cost also remains manageable.

If, on the other hand, the authorities should stop work on site in the worst case because, for example, a previously undiscovered medieval shipwreck was damaged during dredging, then it will be expensive because the special ships cannot continue or have to be rescheduled, resulting in delays and additional work.
Fortunately, this can easily be avoided through our early involvement in the planning process.

What experience does Trident Archäologie draw on?

Trident as a company is still young, but we have over 300 experts from our parent company Wessex Archaeology on our side, making us one of the most experienced commercial archaeological teams in the world.
Together we have over 15 years' experience as market leaders in offshore archaeological projects and working with major companies around the world. This extensive experience and expertise can be seen, for example, in the impressive number that our group of companies has been involved in the construction of more than two thirds of all offshore wind farms in Great Britain.

In which areas are our employees qualified?

Our employees are our greatest asset. All employees are specialised experts in their field, whether they are archaeologists, geophysicists or software specialists - almost all of them have a scientific education and in addition usually many years of experience in the industry. This gives our clients unparalleled access to broad-based knowledge and highly specialised skills.
Employees who are deployed on site also have all the necessary commercial certifications for working safely in offshore environments.

What values does Trident Archäologie stand for?

We work in partnership with our clients to deliver practical and sustainable solutions for the effective management of underwater cultural heritage. Our experience and knowledge help our clients achieve successful project outcomes, engage stakeholders and preserve the value of national historic monuments.

Our employees are our greatest and most valuable asset in this process. We do everything we can to provide the safest and most sustainable working environment possible. We encourage innovation and always strive to develop the expertise of our teams.

And we love our work, because it makes an important contribution to the protection and understanding of our common cultural heritage.