[Update – the work described below has now been completed. This notice remains as part of the historical record of notices issued for this project. Please refer to the most recent notice for an up-to-date record of the notices presently in force for this project. This can be accessed via the project description page here.]
This update covers two new Notices to Mariners for the Western HVDC Link cable in the Irish Sea. The first Notice concerns the recovery of the 28km of cable that has been in wet storage to the south of the Isle of Man since December 2015 and can be downloaded here. The second Notice provides an update on the location exposed cables along the route that are presently awaiting protection and can be downloaded here.
Both Notices to Mariners are summarised below, and we have also included an updated list of the Notices to Mariners that are presently in force for this project.
Deep Water Cable Installation Update
The third deep water cable installation campaign, in the North Channel of the Irish Sea, was completed in early August 2016.
The cable laying vessel Giulio Verne has now transited to the south of the Isle of Man to recover the 28km of cable that has been in wet storage since December 2015. This cable will be joined to the cable that was laid to the south of the Isle of Man prior to December 2015, and the cable will then be installed along the planned route in that area. This work is due be completed by the end of August – early September 2016. The notice to mariners describing this work can be downloaded here.
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:-
- Giulio Verne: Cable layer | Call sign IBPU
- Go Pegasus: Tug / supply vessel | Call sign V7CE4
Vessels will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 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 navigation authorities.
Exposed cable locations
There are several sections of exposed cable along the cable route including the planned cable crossing locations previously communicated through notice to mariners. These sections are currently being monitored by Guard Vessels which have been deployed locally.
To assist all mariners, a consolidated list of exposed cable locations has been compiled and can be downloaded here.
Burial of the exposed sections of cable is expected to commence in September – October 2016 on the southern part of the route in Liverpool Bay. Updates on this work will be communicated in due course.
Vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and fishing vessels are advised to remain a safe distance (approximately 1.5 nautical miles) from the areas identified. Guard Vessels have been deployed at each location to aid in monitoring the exposed areas and advise of safe distances locally.
The locations of these exposed sections are shown in Table 1 of the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Guard vessels
Guard vessels will be stationed as appropriate along the cable route during installation and burial to ensure the safety of marine users. There are presently 4 guard vessels on station along the cable route. The areas being covered by each guard vessel are specified in a notice to mariners that can be downloaded here.
Notices to Mariners
The Notices to Mariners that are presently in force for this project are:-
- Deep Water Cable Installation, Irish Sea – this is the notice described above. It was issued in August 2016 and provides an update on progress and a notice of activities associated with the recovery and installation of the cable to the south of the Isle of Man. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Exposed cable locations, Irish Sea – this is the notice described above. It was issued in August 2016 and provides an update on the locations of exposed cable areas which are awaiting protection. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Wet storage of cable – this notice advises of the surface laying of a 28km stretch of cable in temporary “wet storage” along part of the Western HVDC Link cable route. The notice can be downloaded here .
- Concrete mattressing – along the cable route concrete mattresses have been laid at crossings of existing cables and pipelines. A notice to mariners about the mattressing campaign conducted earlier this year can be downloaded here.
Earlier notices are all rescinded.
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.