Mariners are advised that operations for the Western HVDC landfall at Ardneil will commence during the week commencing 10th November 2014. A Notice to Mariners advising about the timetable for operations can be downloaded here and is summarised below. The previous Notice to Mariners about these works (issued on 17th July 2014) is superseded.
Installation of pipes
Two large plastic pipes (620m long and 450mm in diameter) will be used to route the HVDC cable under the beach and golf course at Ardneil. These pipes are presently in storage on the shore north of Hunterston Port. One of these pipes will be installed this month.
On the 13th or 14th November 2014 (weather permitting) a work barge, the LM Constructor (MMSI 8522559, Call Sign MHUJ2), will take up station in Ardneil Bay. The LM Constructor’s tow tug is the Voe Chief (MMSI 235075142, Call Sign 2CRL5).
One pipe will be towed from Hunterston to Ardneil Bay using a local vessel Challenger of Leith (MMSI 235075142, Call Sign 2AAD3) as the lead tug and the Jetstar (MMSI 235022933, Call Sign MKFU5) will take control of the tail end of the pipe. The pipe is painted front end and tail and every 50m in between with a 500mm wide yellow “ribbon” of radar reflecting yellow paint.
The pipe will be positioned alongside the LM Constructor prior to being installed into a pre-drilled borehole from Ardneil Bay to an onshore position landwards of West Kilbride Golf Course. The pipe will be monitored by a local vessel Challenger of Leith (MMSI 235058132, Call Sign 2AAD3).
The LM Constructor will demobilise to Troon after installation of the pipe and during periods of bad weather.
The second pipe will remain at the storage location north of Hunterston Port (see our earlier Notice to Mariners giving details here) and is due to be installed later in 2014. A further notice to Mariners will be issued prior to the installation of this pipe.
Please note that installation dates are approximate and could be affected by project progress and weather conditions.
Vessel details
Details of the vessels involved in these operations, along with their present location can be found on MarineTraffic.com via the links below:-
- Challenger of Leith: Tug | Call sign 2AAD3
- Jetstar: Tug | Call sign MKFU5
- LM Constructor: work barge | Call sign MHUJ2
- Voe Chief: Tug | Call sign 2CRL5
Vessels will be monitoring VHF Channel 12 throughout the operation.
The vessels involved in this work will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are reminded to navigate with caution in their vicinity and pay strict attention to instructions issued to them by Hunterston Port.
If you have any queries about the Western Link project, please contact Jim Andrews, Fisheries Liaison Officer by e-mail or by phone on +44(0)7908-225865.