Mariners are advised that on the 9th February 2015, a long plastic pipe (500m long and 560mm in diameter) is due to be towed from Hunterston to Ardneil Bay. This pipe will then be pulled ashore through a hole that has been bored by horizontal directional drilling beneath the golf course, and emerging on the seabed. Installation of this pipe is expected to take 3 days.
A second pipe is due to be installed later in February (currently scheduled for the 22nd February, conditions permitting).
A Notice to Mariners about these operations has been issued by Clydeport. The notice can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Installation of pipes
The pipes will be assembled ashore at Hunterston and towed to Ardneil Bay using a tug boat (Coastrunner) and the work boat Challenger of Leith.
Prior to the transfer of the pipes from Hunterston a multicat work boat, the MCS Anneke, will be mobilised and anchored in Ardneil Bay. The location of the MCS Anneke during the installation work will be as follows:-
- 55° 41’ 55” N 004° 53’ 50” W (or 55° 41.917’N 004° 53.833’W for use in plotters)
During the course of installation operations, divers may at times be deployed from the MCS Anneke.
One end of the pipe will be positioned alongside the MCS Anneke prior to being installed into pre-drilled boreholes from Ardneil Bay to an onshore position landwards of West Kilbride Golf Course. The tail end of the pipe will be anchored to the seabed (and may thus be up to 500m seaward of the MCS Anneke).
The MCS Anneke will demobilise between the two pipe installation times.
Please note that installation dates are approximate and could be affected by project progress and weather conditions.
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:-
- Coastrunner: Tug | Call sign 2EDW3
- Challenger of Leith: Workboat | Call sign 2AAD3
- MCS Anneke: Multicat workboat | Call sign 2CSG7
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 Estuary Control (contact on +44(0)1475-726221 or VHF Channel 12).
Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about this notice.