Mariners are advised that marine geophysical survey work will commence in the North Channel over both the Moyle Interconnector Cable and the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline in September 2020. Survey work will also be taking place on the Larne Lough Crossing and Belfast Lough Crossing pipelines. A Notice to Mariners describing the work can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Survey work
Geophysical survey work is due to be carried out by two vessels (detailed below). The vessels will survey the route of the Moyle Interconnector cables, the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline (SNIP) in the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland and also the route of the Larne Lough Crossing and Belfast Lough Crossing pipelines.
The nearshore survey work is due to start on 31st August and be completed by 5th September. The offshore survey work is due to start on the 10th September and to be completed by the 1st October.
The location of the survey area is illustrated in the Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here.
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:-
- Inshore survey: MV Ocean Crest | Call sign 2FR03
- Offshore survey: GEO Oceean IV | Call sign LXHD
MV Ocean Crest will be acting as a guard vessel for a USS Accession Class unmanned survey vessel (3.5m long, 1.3m beam, survey speed 5-6 knots). GEO Ocean IV will be towing equipment during the survey work. All mariners are requested to maintain a safe distance (500m) from the survey vessels at all times.
The vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 at all times and can be contacted on this channel.
Please contact Shane Rafferty at Mutual Energy (Shane.Rafferty@mutual-energy.com / +44(0)2890437586) if you have any queries or concerns about this notice.