[Please note – this survey is now complete and the Notice to Mariners has been withdrawn.  This information is retained here for reference purposes only.]

Mariners are advised that shallow water survey work is due to be carried out along the Western High Voltage DC Link cable route in the Firth of Clyde at Ardneil Bay and off the Wirral in Liverpool Bay during August 2023.  A notice to mariners about these operations can be downloaded here and is summarised below.

Shallow water survey work

A geophysical survey of the shallow water extent of the installed Western Link cables is due to be carried out by Tecnoambiente using the survey vessel AMS Panther in the shallow water (up to 20m below CD) as follows.

• Liverpool Bay, off the Wirral – survey work is due to start on 3rd August and to be completed by 13th August 2023 (subject to weather conditions).
• Ardneil Bay, Firth of Clyde – survey work is due to start on the 14th August 2023 and to be completed by the 18th August 2023 (subject to weather conditions).

Full details of the location and extent of this work can be found in the Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here.

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:-

• AMS Panther: Research / survey vessel | Call sign 2EHC2

The survey vessel will operate on a 12 hour basis, and during survey work may be towing equipment up to 100m behind the vessel.  Throughout survey operations the vessel will be displaying the appropriate navigation lights and shapes.

The vessel involved in this work may be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are asked to pass at a safe speed and maintain a wide berth of at least 0.5 nautical miles.

AMS Panther will monitor Channel 16.  Other vessels are asked to contact the vessel for up-to-date information about survey progress.

Notices to Mariners

The Notices to Mariners that are presently in place for the Western HVDC Link project are:-

• Western HVDC Link: Shallow water survey work – Firth of Clyde, & Liverpool Bay August-September 2023 – this notice is described above.  It was issued on the 25th July 2023 and provides information about upcoming survey work on the shallow water cable in Ardneil Bay, Firth of Clyde and off the Wirral in Liverpool Bay.  The Notice to Mariners can be downloaded here.

Earlier notices are all rescinded.