Mariners are advised that Notices to Mariners have been issued by Clydeport concerning the pre-lay grapnel run and the guard vessels for the Hunsterston-Kintyre cable. A brief summary of each notice is provided below.
Pre Lay Grapnel Run
A pre-lay grapnel run and boulder clearance operations will be carried out along the entire route, starting on or about Saturday May 9th. Offshore work will be carried out by the vessel Kingdom of Fife. Inshore work, including the installation of concrete mattresses over the crossing of other cables and diving opertions, will be carried out by the vessel Forth Constructor. The notice to mariners advising of this work is available here.
Guard vessels
During underwater operations by the Kingdom of Fife, a Designated Cable Guardship will be in the vicinity to advise Mariners of intended operating areas, exclusion zones and areas to avoid impeding the intended route of the vessels involved with underwater operations.
The vessels FV Ocean Maid BA55, FV Spes Bona V BA107 and FV Caledonia TT34 will act as designated guardships on this project. Vessel details are provided later in this update. The notice to mariners describing the guard vessels is available here.
Installation programme
Cable installation work is due to start at Ardneil Bay with the pull in of the southern cable on the 27th May by the vessel Forth Constructor. The cable will then be surface laid across the Clyde by the vessel Nexans Skagerrak. It is due to be pulled in to the Kintyre shore on May 31st. The north cable is due to be installed in Late June. Cable protection and burial work will be carried out on both cables between June and August.
Clydeport are due to be issuing notices to mariners before these works begin, which will provide more detail about the location and nature of each activity.
Vessel details
Details of the vessels involved in these operations, along with their present locations can be found on MarineTraffic.com via the links below:-
- Caledonia TT34: guard vessel | Call sign 2HNK
- Forth Constructor: tug | Call sign GXAD
- Kingdom of Fife: anchor handling vessel | Call Sign 2BKR2
- Nexans Skagerrak: cable laying vessel | Call Sign LCEK
- Ocean Maid BA55: guard vessel | Call sign 2DMT
- Spes Bona V BA107: guard vessel | Call sign 2COP4
During marine works construction vessels may be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. The guard vessels in operation will provide advice to ensure the safety of mariners and sea users in the area.
Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about this notice.