Work on the installation of the Wirral end of the Western Link undersea power cable is due to continue in August 2013. A further Notice to Mariners has been issued and can be downloaded here. We have summarised this notice and provide a further update below.
Storage of Cable Sleeve Pipes in Mostyn
The cable sleeve pipes that were being stored at an anchorage in Liverpool Bay have been moved from their mooring in Liverpool Bay to the Old Mostyn Gutter in Mostyn Harbour. The pipes are secured at each end to the shore and run along the north side of the breakwater. Each pipe is 600m long and 450mm (18″) in diameter. The location of the pipes is shown in the Notice to Mariners here.
Offshore anchorage
The offshore anchorage for the pipes will remain in place at location 53°26.50’N 03°08.727’W. The anchor locations are marked with a lit yellow buoy. The anchorage location is shown in the previous Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here. Once the pipes have been installed the anchorage will be removed.
Installation schedule
Prior to installation the cable sleeve pipes will be moved one at a time from Mostyn to the offshore anchorage location, and then transferred inshore where they will be used to sleeve the power cables holes that will be drilled under the seawall and navigation channel by Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment based onshore.
The proposed installation procedure is summarised below:-
- Week commencing 2nd September 2013: the barge Wilcarry 501 will mobilise to the beach off Leasowe. The pipe will be disconnected from its anchorage by the vessels Vixen and JetStar and towed to the Wilcarry 501, prior to being installed beneath the embankment and navigation channel.
- Week commencing 23rd September: the second pipe will be installed by Wilcarry 501, Vixen & Jetstar using the procedure outlined above.
All of these dates will be subject to favourable weather conditions and are liable to change if the weather is inclement.
Vessel Details
Information about the vessels that will be involved in this work is given below. Where possible we have included a link to the MarineTraffic.com website so that you can see the current location of the vessels involved in construction with just one click.
- Wilcarry 501: Flat top pontoon.
- Vixen: tug | Call sign 2FJL9
- JetStar: shallow water jet workboat
Construction vessels will monitor VHF Channels 12 & 16. All other vessels are requested to give these vessel 500m clearance during construction activity.
The Western Link
The Western Link will be an undersea cable linking Ardneil in the Clyde with the Wirral in north-west England. Details of the project can be found on our website here.
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.