[Please note – this work has now been completed. The Notice to Mariners has been withdrawn. This information has been left on the website as part of the archive of published information for the project.]
Mariners are advised that offshore survey work is due to be carried out along the two high pressure gas interconnector pipelines running between Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man during July-August 2021. A notice to mariners about these operations can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Offshore survey work
The survey vessel Noordhoek Pathfinder will be conducting a detailed Multibeam Echosounder (“MBES”), Sidescan sonar (“SSS”) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (“ROV”) inspection of the pipeline along its route from Scotland (Kirkcudbright), to the Isle of Man (Glen Mooar) and Ireland (Loughshinny/Gormanston).
A map of the pipeline route and the precise locations of the survey extent are provided in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
The survey work is due to start on the 25th July 2021 off the Scottish coast. The survey is expected to take approximately 5 weeks. During the survey the vessel shall be working on a 24 hour basis and is due to travel along the route of each pipeline several times.
All dates are subject to sea and weather conditions. Updates on the schedule will be provided as the survey progresses.
Vessel details
Information about the location of the vessel carrying out this work can be found at the Marine Traffic website using the link below:-
- Noordhoek Pathfinder: Research / survey vessel | Call sign PBYN
The survey vessel will be displaying the relevant day shapes and night lights as specified by the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (“IRPCS”).
Towed gear will be operated during the survey with a layback of approximately 200-500m behind the vessel.
The vessel involved in this work may be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are reminded to pass at a safe speed and maintain a wide berth of at least 1000m distance.
Further details about the survey vessel are given in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Additional information
The two Irish Sea Gas Interconnectors (“IC1” and “IC2”)are operated by Gas Networks Ireland (“GNI”). A map of the GNI gas pipeline network is available here. The two Irish Sea Interconnectors and the Isle of Man Spur were installed between 1992 and 2003.
GNI have produced a High Pressure Subsea Gas Pipeline Awareness leaflet (available here). This leaflet shows the route of the pipelines, describes their structure and provides advice on safe operations in the vicinity of the pipelines.
Notices to Mariners
The Notices to Mariners that have been issued for the survey of the GNI Pipelines are listed below:-
- Offshore surveys: July-August 2021 – this is the notice described above. It provides information on the offshore survey work that is due to take place between July and August 2021. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Shallow water surveys: July-August 2021 – this notice was issued on 29th June 2021. It provides information on the pipeline survey work that is due to be carried out in shallow waters near to Scottish, Manx and Irish landfalls of the pipelines. A summary and link to the Notice can be accessed here.