Its 33 years since SEALIFE Scheveningen aquarium first opened its doors in 1993. This was the successful aquarium brands first foray into the European marketplace. Back then things were very different. The aquarium attraction market was relatively untested by anyone other than established European attraction operators. SEALIFE Centres saw an opportunity and invested heavily into a prominent seafront aquarium location in Den Haag Scheveningen. The SEALIFE Scheveningen sites success led to a major roll out of SEALIFE branded aquarium attractions across Europe. After many years of successful trading it was decided to redevelop the SEALIFE attraction giving it ATL’s Dutch aquarium refurbishment treatment.

Last year the SEALIFE Aquarium in Scheveningen closed its doors to enable the significant redevelopment works to begin. Many of the fish were carefully rehomed at industry leaders Dejongmarinelife

The ATL team were entrusted to provide aquarium refurbishment services for the existing tanks including waterproofing, sealing and theming works for the main ocean exhibit. In addition we designed and installed some stunning new tanks to enhance the existing displays. Starting with the central ocean tank display. Following some structural repairs, the ATL team applied a new bi-colour GRP waterproof coating to the tank structure.

Our GRP lining works in progress

This included installing new surface skimmers to improve water flows and circulation to match the upgraded LSS installation works undertaken.

ATL lining and tunnel sealing works

ATL’s creative team team set about building and installing a stunning new themed back drop for the aquarium including tropical reef rockwork and artificial corals, replica ship wreck components even carved lion figure heads and realistic shipwreck cannons featured.

The lion statue and bowsprit takes shape

ATL work in progress on the ocean tank

Our coral theming work in the ocean tank

All of the acrylic viewing panels including the walk through 180 tunnel panels were completely resealed and cosmetically polished to return them to ‘as new’ condition. Once again we worked alongside independent acrylic engineering specialists ISP Gmbh who tested the acrylic panels confirming the continued service condition. Following this essential testing procedure our creative teams continued the coral reef theme out into the tunnel walkway.

The tunnel walk walkway before being decorated

ATL coral work continued to the tunnel walkway

Walk through the remodelled tunnel walkway

During the closure the opportunity presented itself to upgrade and refurbish other significant displays including the ray pool and Amazonia tanks alongside a plethora of smaller exhibits.

Elsewhere around the site we provided significant levels of 3d rockwork and features in areas such as the new sea at night zone which features glowing UV corals and an immersive wave projection wall.

Toby inspecting progress on the wave wall before we theme around it

The head up cylinder forms a central part of the sea at night area

Putting the finishing touches to the sea at night area

A brand new rockpool zone features a series of ATL’s popular shallow sea creature exhibits was also added.

Existing tanks were rethemed to match the new rockpool features

ATL’s rockpool and shallow seas tanks feature in the revamped attraction

The new interactive rockpool is always popular

SEALIFE Scheveningen was officially reopened by the mayor.

The refurbished aquarium was officially opened by mayor Van Zanen

It was lovely opportunity for us to be able to provide ATLs Dutch aquarium refurbishment skills to this project. Some of the ATL team were even involved in the original installation works so it really did feel like a ‘full circle’ project for us. Despite all of the set backs along the way typical of such a major aquarium revamp, this was another amazing ATL team effort seeing us delivering the finished project on time and on budget. ATL specialise in aquarium, zoo and visitor attraction refurbishment projects- feel free to contact us for help, guidance or just for the friendly and practical advice needed for your next project.

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Its nearly 25 years since the ATL team originally installed the SEALIFE aquarium in Helsinki, Finland. Situated a 10 minute tram ride from the metropolis of the city and adjacent to the historic Lina maki amusement park, Sealife Helsinki has attracted millions of visitors since first opening its doors. It was therefore decided that now, was the right time to refurbish and upgrade the large ocean tank feature to provide an enhanced visitor experience.

Once again ATL was Merlin Entertainments chosen partner to undertake the specialist works for the Sealife Helsinki ocean tank refurbishment. Back in the late Autumn specialist Sealife teams ensured the fish were carefully removed and rehomed before the ocean tank was drained down. Our team then undertook removing the large theatre window which allowed safe, low level access into the tank for the local demolition contractors to begin removal of the outdated tank decor. With the window removed and the tank empty of debris our technicians set up and painstakingly prepared the tank for the application of a new water proof lining system.

ATL team painstakingly preparing the Sealife Helsinki ocean tank for lining

This time around we offered our bi colour GRP composite waterproofing system with ocean blue walls and sand coloured floor areas.

Finishing touches to the ocean tank waterproofing process in Helsinki

ATL’s bi colour GRP lining system

After 25 years of trouble free service the acrylic viewing panels were in need of some care. Once all of the original sealants were removed, the walk through acrylic tunnel sections, portholes and vertical cylinder panels were all cosmetically polished inside and out returning them to new condition.

Cosmetically polishing the ocean tunnel

A new formed acrylic ocean theatre window was produced and delivered to site. On arrival this presented us with the usual tight access challenge starting with getting it physically into the building in -10C with snow on the ground! As ever the ATL installation team worked their magic and the panel was safely installed.

Installing the new theatre window into the building

There had been a number of historic modifications made to the original LSS filtration system set up. These modifications had not all necessarily resulted in improved water parameters. So it was decided that whilst the tank was empty to suggest and make some ATL improvements to the filtration system. ATL’s technicians revaluated all of the system equipment and made changes that have now resulted in major improvements to water flow and resulting clarity. We also installed new full flow ultra violet disinfection to the different systems. All of this work delivers the water parameter improvements needed and equally important ensures the LSS systems are easier to monitor and maintain by the on site team.

Full flow ultra violet disinfection units were added to the LSS system

ATL improvement works in the Helsinki plantroom

Seizing the rare opportunity to have the ocean tank emptied presented a blank canvass, so the SEALIFE Helsinki team deigned a new aquascape they wanted to achieve. Once again ATL worked closely with their specialist partners Koda Creative . Together we delivered amazing new theming concept with realistic tropical reef scenery, including swim throughs and two large totem head iconic features. A selection of ATL’s own artificial corals were installed to really bring the scenery to life.

Koda creatives Iconic feature totems in Sealife Helsinki

Theming features in Sealife Helsinki

view from ATL’s vertical cylinder viewing panel

Black tipped reef shark enjoying the newly decorated tank

Once completed our technician team installed and sealed into place a new 3m x 2m formed acrylic viewing window into the newly renovated ocean tank viewing theatre and the tank was finally ready to be filled.

During refilling our team returned to site to commission the new life support systems and to conduct final inspections and checks. Everything pleasingly worked to plan and the tank restocking completed successfully.

A black tip reef shark cruising across the ATL renovated underwater tunnel in Sealife Helsinki

The exhibit officially reopened last week. We are all really pleased with the end result and this successfully concludes another amazing aquarium refurbishment project that ATL the leaders in aquarium technology team has delivered. I have no doubt that the SEALIFE Helsinki ocean tank refurbishment will ensure it remains Finlands premier tropical aquarium attraction. More details can be seen here

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SEALIFE Great Yarmouth first opened its doors to the public in 1990. During that time the aquarium has seen many changes including various thematic changes to the site including the major ocean tank display. The ocean tank included a viewing theatre with large laminated glass panels. After nearly 35 years of trouble free service it was decided the ocean tank windows needed to be replaced so the opportunity presented itself to rethink the viewing area and replace the glass windows with acrylic. The original glass panels were supported on heavy glass mullions which were typical of tanks of this era. Despite being glass the original mullions were bulky and attempts to disguise them with replica stone columns in combination did nothing to add to the visual clarity of the area.

The original glass viewing panels in SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

Glass viewing panels and mullions

ATL were appointed to provide specialist advice on how the ocean tank viewing area could be modified enabling the use of acrylic panels. Firstly a bespoke lifting beam was designed by the clients structural engineer and installed over the tank. This beam was to be used to suspend the specialist vacuum lifting equipment required to provide support for the heavy glasses as they were being cut out from the rebate. The same system was used to safely manoeuvre and lower the panels out of the tank for disposal.

Our team removing the 35 year old silicone seals

ATL removing the glass mullions from the ocean tank

Harry steadying the glass

Working as intended- failed glass leaf held on the interlayer

All the old glass removed

Various glazing combinations were considered including installing a single span acrylic panel. However a single viewing panel was not considered to be practical as it would involve literally removing the roof of the building with all of the consequential disruption that would bring. So it was decided that the ocean viewing area would be reconfigured using multiple acrylic panels and refined steel support elements. We went about designing and fabricating steel mullions and the existing tank frame was then modified to accept the new mullion supports being welded in on site. Once the structural work on site was complete, ATL’s GRP composite water proofing was applied to the new frame integrating it with the existing tank lining. Full height acrylic viewing panels were then delivered onto site and safely lifted back into the tank, installed and sealed into the prepared tank frames.

Ocean tank viewing panels with mullions

Hydrotesting the new viewing panel installation at SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

The behind the scenes organisation needed to safely rehome all of the fish and other inhabitants are considerable and requires months of planning so the chance to drain the major ocean display doesn’t come along too often. When it does the opportunity is seized to provide new theming features for the tank. ATL typically provide high quality tank decor as part of their package however in this instance the theming work was entrusted to a local specialist. They have recreated the wreck of the HMS Gloucester which sunk off Great Yarmouth in 1682 for more details see HMS Gloucester . Meanwhile the ATL team provided a replacement composite filter bed and pipework at the same time as installing a bespoke composite anti splash screen to the top of the tank.

Our team added a GRP anti splash upstand to the tank perimeter

Further works completed by our multi skilled team included replacing and upgrading various items of life support system equipment including adding an additional full flow ultra violet disinfection unit.

Media filter upgrades at SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

Additional full flow UV disinfection unit was added to enhance the LSS

Finally we designed and built some new aquarium displays to replace some end of life displays in another part of the aquarium exhibition. Using ATL’s prefabricated system of production meant that these replacement tanks could be prefabricated offsite and fast track delivered fully themed and ready to add water and fish.

Winding the clock on 35 years – it was great for the ATL team to be back on site and entrusted with such a technically challenging project and successfully delivering the SEALIFE Great Yarmouth ocean tank refurbishment.

Visitors enjoying the views through the new acrylic windows

The new acrylic viewing panels

The new windows allow close up viewing of the friendly inhabitants.

The fish enjoying their newly refurbished home in SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

More details about SEALIFE Great Yarmouth can be viewed here

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