[Update – the work described below has now been completed. This 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 the vessel Normand Pacific is due to commence Post Lay Installation Burial Works along the Western HVDC Link cable route, starting in early September 2016. This update provides a brief summary of the detail included in the Notice to Mariners describing this work, which can be downloaded here.
Post Lay Installation Burial Works
Post Lay Installation Burial Works (PLIB) are due to be carried out by the Normand Pacific using a jetting tool. This will be used to bury sections of exposed cable. These have been identified in earlier Notices to Mariners (and also summarised in the NtM about these works). Areas where jetting is not possible (such as service crossings) will be protected at a later stage in the project.
These works will be carried out along the completed sections of the cable route (Campaigns 1,2 & 3), These are all illustrated in the NtM about these works. The work is due to commence in early September 2016 and to be completed in November 2016.
The notice to mariners describing this work 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:-
- Normand Pacific: Multi Purpose Offshore Vessel | Call sign LAXI7
The vessel will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 throughout the operation.
The vessel involved in this work will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are reminded to navigate with caution in their vicinity and pay strict attention to instructions issued to them by navigation authorities.
Exposed cable locations
There are several sections of exposed cable along the cable route including the planned cable crossing locations previously communicated through notice to mariners. 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 has been compiled and can be downloaded here.
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 these exposed sections are shown in Table 1 of the 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 matressing or rock placement).
Notices to Mariners
The Notices to Mariners that are presently in force for this project are:-
- Post Lay Installation Burial Works – this is the notice described above. It was issued on 24th August 2016 and provides information about the proposed cable burial works for Campaigns 1, 2 & 3 of the cable route which will be carried out between September and November 2016. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Deep Water Cable Installation, Irish Sea – this notice was issued on 20th August 2016 and confirms that the cable to the south of the Isle of Man has been recovered and buried, and provides an update on upcoming survey and cable installation work. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Deep Water Cable Installation, Irish Sea – this notice was issued in August 2016 and provides an update on progress and a notice of activities associated with the recovery and installation of the cable to the south of the Isle of Man. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Exposed cable locations, Irish Sea – this notice was issued in August 2016 and provides an update on the locations of exposed cable areas which are awaiting protection. The notice can be downloaded here.
- Wet storage of cable – this notice advises of the surface laying of a 28km stretch of cable in temporary “wet storage” along part of the Western HVDC Link cable route. 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 earlier this year can be downloaded here.
Earlier notices are all rescinded.
If you have any queries about the Western Link project, please contact Jim Andrews, Fisheries Liaison Officer by e-mail or by phone on +44(0)7908-225865.