Mariners are advised that the vessel Elektron is being mobilised to carry out emergency repair work on the southern Moyle Interconnector power cable in the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. This work is due to commence on the 6th May 2017. A Notice to Mariners describing the work can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Cable Repair Work
The cable repair work will be carried out in two campaigns. The first campaign will involve precise location of the cable fault by the vessel Elektron. This vessel will then de-trench and raise the cable to the surface to remove the faulty section. The remaining cable will be sealed and laid back on the seabed in the existing cable trench.
This work is due to be carried out between the 6th – 25th May 2017. The work will be centred around the coordinates given below:-
- Repair location: 005° 30.9855’W 54° 54.9536’N.
This location is illustrated on a chart in the Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here.
Later in the year (probably in August), the vessel Nexans Skagerrak will return to the area to pick up the cut cable ends, splice in a new section of cable, lay down the repaired cable and re-bury it. A further Notice to Mariners will be issued for this campaign of work.
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:-
- Elektron: General cargo vessel | Call sign LADO
During operations the vessel may have reduced ability to manoeuvre. All vessels operating within this area are advised to keep at a safe working distance of 500 metres.
The vessel will monitor VHF Channel 16 at all times.
The Moyle Interconnector
The Moyle Interconnector consists of four undersea cables running between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The first two cables were installed in 2002. Two new cables were laid across the North Channel as part of a repair during 2015. The cables have either been buried or protected with rock to ensure their safe operation. More information about the Moyle cables and their repair can be found here.
Notices to Mariners
The notices to mariners presently relevant to the Moyle Returns project are:-
- Cable Repair, May 2017. This is the notice described above. It was issued on the 4th May and describes the location of activities that are due to be carried out to repair a fault in the Moyle Interconnector cable. The Notice to Mariners can be downloaded here.
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.