[Update – the information in this notice has been superseded by more recent notices. The 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 place for this project. This can be accessed via the project description page here.]
Mariners are advised that survey works for the installed cable sections on the Western HVDC Link route are due to be start in early March 2017. Information about the nature and location of the survey work is provided in a Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here and which is summarised below.
Survey works
Survey work in Liverpool Bay, the Irish Sea, the North Channel and the mouth of the Firth of Clyde is due to be conducted by the vessel Normand Pacific. The survey will consist of a visual and instrumental survey of the installed cable route using a Remotely Operated underwater Vehicle (ROV) deployed from the vessel.
The location of the survey work is illustrated in the Notice to Mariners, along with a list of all of the survey locations. This notice can be downloaded here, .
Vessel details
Details of the vessel involved in these operations, along with its present location can be found on MarineTraffic.com via the link below:-
- Normand Pacific: Multi Purpose Offshore Vessel | Call sign LAXI7
The vessel will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 throughout the operation.
The vessel involved in this work will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are reminded to navigate with caution in its vicinity and pay strict attention to instructions issued to them by navigation authorities.
Guard vessels
Guard vessels have been stationed along the cable route during installation and burial to ensure the safety of marine users. They will remain in position until cable protection operations are completed to advise mariners of the location of exposed cable.
In areas where the cable crosses other cables and pipelines that are in service, the guard vessels will remain on station until cable protection has been completed in these locations (either through concrete mattressing or rock placement).
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 Guard Vessel areas and exposed sections are shown in Tables 1 & 2 of the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Notices to Mariners
The Notices to Mariners that are presently in place for this project are:-
- Survey works of cable installation in Liverpool Bay, Irish Sea, North Channel and Firth of Clyde – this notice is described above. It provides an update on survey work that is due to be conducted along the installed cable route. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Exposed cable locations, Irish Sea, North Channel, Firth of Clyde – this notice was issued on the 10th February 2017. It provides an update on the locations of rock protection areas and exposed cable locations which are awaiting protection as of the 10th February 2017. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Post Lay Rock Placement Works – this notice was issued on 1st February 2017 (and updated on 10th February 2017) and provides information about rock protection work for Campaigns 3 & 6 of the cable route which will be carried out between February and March 2017. The notice can be downloaded here .
- Post Lay Installation Burial Works – this notice was issued on 1st February 2017 and provides information about the cable burial work for Campaign 4 of the cable route which will start in early February 2017. 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 in 2015 can be downloaded here.
Earlier notices are all rescinded.