[Update – the information in this notice has been superseded by more recent notices. The notice remains as part of the historical record of notices issued for this project. Please refer to the most recent notice for an up-to-date record of the notices presently in force for this project. This can be accessed via the project description page here.]
Mariners are advised that following the completion of recent cable burial and laying work on the Western HVDC Link there are presently some sections of exposed cable awaiting burial and / or rock protection work. The location of these areas is given in a Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here and which is summarised below.
Exposed cable locations
There are several sections of exposed cable along the cable route at locations where cable burial has not been possible and at the planned cable crossing locations. These sections are currently being monitored by Guard Vessels which have been deployed locally.
To assist all mariners, a consolidated list of exposed cable locations (as of 10th February 2017) has been compiled. This list is included in the notice to mariners that can be downloaded here. A brief update on the status of different parts of the route is provided below.
North Channel & Firth of Clyde (Campaigns 3 & 6)
Cable burial works have now been completed on Campaigns 3 & 6, which run through the North Channel and into the southern part of the Firth of Clyde. On these sections of the route there are still some exposed areas of cable that are due to be protected by the rock protection vessel Nordnes (detailed in a Notice to Mariners here). The locations of the exposed cable and rock protection areas are detailed in Table 1 of the notice to mariners that can be downloaded here.
Firth of Clyde (Campaigns 4a & 4b)
Cable laying work has been completed for one cable along all of this route (from Ardneil Bay to the west of Ailsa Craig), and is due to be completed shortly for the second cable. The locations of exposed cable on this section of the route is detailed in Table 2 of the notice to mariners that can be downloaded here.
Cable burial work on Campaigns 4a & 4b is due to be carried out by the vessels Normand Pacific and Jif Challenger, starting in early February 2017. Information about this work has been provided in a Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Guard vessels
Guard vessels have been stationed along the cable route during installation and burial to ensure the safety of marine users. They will remain in position until cable protection operations are completed to advise mariners of the location of exposed cable.
In areas where the cable crosses other cables and pipelines that are in service, the guard vessels will remain on station until cable protection has been completed in these locations (either through concrete mattressing or rock placement).
Vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and fishing vessels are advised to remain a safe distance (approximately 1.5 nautical miles) from the areas identified. Guard Vessels have been deployed at each location to aid in monitoring the exposed areas and advise of safe distances locally.
The locations of Guard Vessel areas and exposed sections are shown in Tables 1 & 2 of the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Notices to Mariners
The Notices to Mariners that are presently in place for this project are:-
- Exposed cable locations, Irish Sea, North Channel, Firth of Clyde – this notice is described above. It provides an update on the locations of rock protection areas and exposed cable locations which are awaiting protection as of the 10th February 2017. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Post Lay Rock Placement Works – this notice was issued on 1st February 2017 (and updated on 10th February 2017) and provides information about rock protection work for Campaigns 3 & 6 of the cable route which will be carried out between February and March 2017. The notice can be downloaded here .
- Post Lay Installation Burial Works – this notice was issued on 1st February 2017 and provides information about the cable burial work for Campaign 4 of the cable route which will start in early February 2017. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Concrete mattressing – along the cable route concrete mattresses have been laid at crossings of existing cables and pipelines. A notice to mariners about the mattressing campaign conducted in 2015 can be downloaded here.
Earlier notices are all rescinded.