Mariners are advised that Minesto UK Ltd will be starting installation operations for a “Deep Green” tidal energy converter in the Holyhead Deep off the coast of Anglesey, North Wales, in May 2018. Details of the operations are provided in a Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here and which is summarised below.
Holyhead Deep Project
Holyhead Deep is the starting point for developing Minesto’s unique “Deep Green” marine technology at a commercial scale. It will be the first low-velocity tidal energy project in the world.
The development of tidal energy production at Holyhead Deep is due to be done in phases. The first step will be the installation of one 0.5MW “Deep Green” demonstrator during 2018. Following deployment and testing, the ambition is to install further Deep Green devices to a commercial demonstration array of up to 10MW installed capacity.
Further information about Minesto, the “Deep Green” technology and Holyhead Deep can be found on the Minesto website here.
Installation Operations, May 2018
The installation of a Deep Green DG500 tidal energy converter is due to take place approximately 6km west of South Stack off the coast of Anglesey in the Holyhead Deep.
Schedule
The installation is due to take place during the two neap tide periods in May 2018. Installation work will be weather dependant. The expected duration of works will be 4 days in each neap tide period.
Details of the work is provided in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Location
The installation operations in May will consist of the placing a Gravity Base Structure on the seabed and securing an Offshore Support Buoy at the surface. The location of these components is listed here:-
- MGS Offshore Support Buoy: 53° 17.7957′ N 004° 47.7582’W
- Gravity Base Structure: 53° 17.8309’N 004° 47.9558’W
The location is shown in a map in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
A safety zone of 500m on the sea surface will be established on the MGS Offshore Support Buoy. The moorings for this buoy will extend 800m from the buoy on the seabed.
Vessels
The installation work will involve the vessels listed below. A link to the Marine Traffic website is provided to provide more details about each vessel and also details about their current location.
- Island Vanguard – main installation vessel. Call sign LNVU
- C Fenna – tug / multicat vessel. Call sign MBAH3
A Crew Transfer Vessel or local workboat will assist the Island Vanguard.
A wide berth is requested at all times as the vessels will be restricted in the ability to manoeuvre.
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.