IMS Pontoon; 18th June 2019

Dive into Marine Science Research

Location: Ferry Road, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) is a marine station with an international reputation for providing high quality marine research and teaching. It's been at the forefront of marine biology for more than 70 years.

IMS is located within metres of the sea on the shore of Langstone Harbour. It provides access to the varied marine ecosystems of the Solent European Marine Site, which are rich in bio-fouling organisms.

Students and researchers use our facilities to monitor and test marine environments and seawater. This includes looking at how humans impact marine ecosystems and how materials react to different marine environments. 

The research conducted at IMS is multidisciplinary. Strong research links exist between the School of the Environment and Life Sciences, the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Environmental Network (UPEN) and the wider research community.

External organisations that have used our facilities include QinetiQ, the Building Research Establishment (Bre), Thales, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, and the Research Council of Norway.

Equipment and amenities

  • Twin switching pumps on a pontoon supply seawater to our compound at a rate of 10 L/s
  • Integrated heater/chiller system with a range of 10°C–25°C enabling temperature controlled experiments and ambient seawater experiments
  • Flow-through and re-circulating seawater systems
  • A large wet lab fitted with a flexible plumbing system and a large range of different volume tanks
  • Outdoor aquarium tanks (30–5000L), allowing several hundred tanks to be run with either ambient or temperature-controlled sea-water for experimental research or holding tanks
  • Quarantine rooms for non-native species
  • Living specimen preparation rooms
  • Five experimental aquarium rooms with independent temperature and light control
  • Staff changing room
  • Molecular and general laboratories
  • A flat roof with access for exposure, observation and monitoring trials

  • Lecture theatre with 120 seats
  • Teaching laboratory with 72 work stations, each equipped with compound and dissection microscopes
  • Supporting preparation room for technical staff
  • Seawater on tap

  •  A large research platform permanently moored in the centre of Langstone harbour
  • A secured area with an access hatch down into the harbour water column

  • 2 research vessels allowing inshore and intertidal work within the Solent European Marine Site (SEMS) and surrounding area, and offshore sampling

Contact us

The IMS offers excellent facilities for commercial use, visiting researchers, alongside marine consultancy and extensive expertise. Specialisations include marine efficacy testing, biofilm growth, immersion and exposure testing of building materials, treated wood analyses, and marine micro-plastics research. We cater to marine, maritime, construction, renewable energy, engineering, and utility sectors. Our aquatic centre facilities are also available for hire, and we provide a range of research services from wood treatment to exposure testing of new building materials.

To contact us about using our facilities or services, please contact us:

IMS@port.ac.uk

Related facilities

Biophysical laboratories

Use professional-standard equipment to explore how the structures and functions of molecules change under different conditions.

Female student  on computer in biology lab
Explore labs

Physical Geography and Meteorology Laboratories

Use the latest physical and meteorological equipment in our labs, including a rainfall simulator and automatic weather stations.

Physical geography and meteorology lab
Learn more about the lab

GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory

Discover more about the planet's physical structures and scientific processes, such as glaciers and coastal flooding, using drone data, aerial and satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems.

Explore the lab

Where to find us

Institute of Marine Sciences
Building C (Aquatic Centre),
Ferry Road,
Southsea,
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú,
Hampshire,
PO4 9LY