[Update – the information in this notice has been superseded by more recent notices.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 place for this project. This can be accessed via the project description page here.]
Mariners are advised that the vessel HAM 602 has now completed rock placement works in Ardneil Bay. The earlier Notice to Mariners about rock placement activity in this area is therefore rescinded.
An update on the status of the remainder of the cable installation project is provided below.
Cable laying operations
The Giulio Verne arrived on site in late March 2017 (see our update here). Giulio Verne will joint the cable previously laid on the seabed with a length of cable aboard the vessel, which will then be surface laid to KP58 (near Ailsa Craig) where it will be jointed with the previously laid Campaign 6.
The cable will be buried by post-lay jetting along the route by the vessel Normand Pacific which is expected to be on site in April.
Details of the cable route and burial methodology are provided in the Notice to Mariners issued in March which can be downloaded here.
Exposed cable locations
There are several sections of exposed cable along the cable route at locations where cable burial or protection has not been possible and at some remaining 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 15th March 2017) has been compiled. This list is included in the notice to mariners that 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:-
- Western HVDC Link: Cable Installation Campaigns 4b (Firth of Clyde) and 5a (Irish Sea) – this is the notice described above. It was issued on 29th March 2017 and provides an update on proposed cable installation work in the Firth of Clyde and the Irish Sea. It can be downloaded here.
- Exposed cable locations: Update, Irish Sea North Channel, Firth of Clyde – this notice was issued on 16th March 2017 and provides an update on exposed cable locations in these areas. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Debris – this notice was issued on the 15th March 2017. It informs mariners of the location of some debris that was found during the Pre Lay Grapnel Run along the cable route to the south of the Isle of Man. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Survey works of cable installation in Liverpool Bay, Irish Sea, North Channel and Firth of Clyde – this notice was issued on 1st March 2017. It provides an update on survey work that is due to be conducted along the installed cable route. 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.