This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 3rd December 2012 to harbour masters and sea users. This notice describes progress with construction, recent operations, work planned for the next 7 days, and provides a list of vessels operating on the site with their contact details.
Wind Farm Construction Status
Progress with construction progress is illustrated in a map here, and summarised below:-
- Monopiles: 64 installed, 96 remaining
- Transition pieces: 56 installed, 104 remaining
- Export cables: 1st cable (East) laid, still to be joined. 2nd cable (East) due to be laid.
- Array cables: work not commenced
Navigation Hazards
There are presently a number of navigation hazards in and around the windfarm area. These include:-
- Unlit objects – there are presently 10 unlit monopiles and transition pieces within the windfarm boundary. Our latest update about these hazards can be accessed here.
- Exposed monopiles – there are currently 8 exposed monopiles, which may be submerged at certain states of tide. These are detailed in our previous notice here.
The location of these hazards is shown in a map here.
Work carried out over past 7 days
The following work has been carried out in the past week:
- Stanislav Yudin continued foundation installation duties assisted by support vessels Anglian Monarch, Smit Angola and Union Boxer.
- Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook, Scirocco and Penrhyn Bay utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required and sailed from Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock 3.
- Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessel as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
- Choice has been on guard vessel duties (see Notice to Mariners 13 here). An MMO team has been aboard for drilling / piling activities with Friedrich Ernestine.
- Cable barge Cable Enterprise with support vessels Whalsa Lass, MCA Ailsa and Fairplay 27 has been alongside in Royal Seaforth Dock, Liverpool, preparing to lay 2nd Export Cable
- Smit Barge 12 has been on standby in Vittoria Dock.
- Viking Barge 5 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
- Viking Barge 3 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
- Terramare 1 continued with diving operations (see Notice to Mariners 18 here)
- Friederich Ernestine moved to F10H to install the monopile and transition piece here.
- St David was onsite for maintenance of Gwynt y Môr waverider buoy (see Notice to Mariners 24 here).
Work planned for next 7 days
The work planned for the next 7 days on the site is:
- Stanislav Yudin will continue installation of monopiles supported by Smit Angola, Anglian Monarch and Union Boxer.
- Friederich Ernestine will continue cleaning, drilling, installation and grouting operations, and is due to arrive in Holyhead on 6th December for fule and stores.
- Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penryn Bay, Penhros Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook and Scirocco will be utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessels running out of Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock, Liverpool.
- Choice will remain on station as guard vessel and conduct MMO duties during drilling activities.
- Cable barge Cable Enterprise and support vessels Fairplay 27, Whalsa Lass and MCS Ailsa will remain in Royal Seaforth Dock, Liverpool, making preparations to lay 2nd Export Cable.
- Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 will transport components to the windfarm area assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald on a regular basis.
- DSV Terramare 1 will continue diving operations on site.
- Normand Tonjer will arrive in Holyhead on 3rd December to mobilise for diving operations.
- Pontra Maris and support vessels Claudia B and Nova K will mobilise for cable joint repairs.
List of vessels at site for next 7 days
The vessels that will be operating on the site over the next 7 days and their contact details are given below. We have linked up the vessel names to MarineTraffic.com so that with just one mouse click you can find out more about their current location and recent activity.
- Anglian Monarch: support vessel for Stanislav Yudin | Call sign MYFR6
- Cable Enterprise: cable barge | Call sign 2FOV9
- Chinook: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2FFH2
- Choice: Marine Mammal Observation Vessel / Guard Vessel.
- Claudia B: Utility vessel | Call sign PDJL
- Colwyn Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2CYE6
- Fairplay 27: lead tug for export cable barge | Call sign 9HZE9
- Friederich Ernestine: multi purpose offshore vessel | Call sign DIPC2
- Kinmel Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2FDF9
- MCS Ailsa: Multicat for export cable barge | Call sign – 5BDK3
- Malltraeth Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2FGW7
- Nova K: Work vessel | Call sign PHCR
- Pontra Maris: Pontoon | Call sign PGUZ
- Penrhos Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2DLB8
- Penrhyn Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2EBK5
- Scirocco: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2FDR4
- Smit Angola: anchor handling barge | Call sign C6YI5
- Smit Tiger: tug | Call sign ORPO
- Stanislav Yudin: heavy lift vessel | Call sign 5BYM2
- Terramare 1: Diving support vessel | Call sign ZQWK6
- Tremadoc Bay: Crew transfer vessel | Call sign 2FHG8
- Union Boxer: anchor handling vessel | Call sign ORPS
- Union Emerald: anchor handling vessel | Call sign OROE
- Whalsa Lass: multicat for export cable barge | Call Sign – 2EZQ4
All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16.
Port Arrivals
The planned port arrivals over the next 7 days are:-
- Cammel Laird Birkenhead/Port of Liverpool.
- Smit Buffalo & Smit Beluga, on a daily basis within Tranmere Wet Basin.
- Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 supported by Union Boxer, Union Emerald and 2 Smit tugs on a continuous basis from Tranmere Wet Basin towards the “Q1” Buoy.
- Coasters Joerg N, Bente, Marlene and Manual Access Platform (MAPs) delivery vessels will continue to deliver components to Base Harbour at Birkenhead on a regular basis.
- Construction vessels and support vessels may enter Liverpool at short notice to change crew and collect stores.
- Mostyn.
- No movements expected.
- Liverpool marina / Cammell Lairds wet basin / Canada Dock
- Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook & Scirocco on a daily basis.
Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about these activities.