Mariners are advised that survey work is due to be carried out along the Western HVDC Link cable route by the vessel MV Scotia. The work is due to start in December 2025. A Notice to Mariners detailing these operations is summarised below and can be downloaded here.
Survey Work
The survey will be conducted at 14 locations in the Firth of Clyde, North Channel, and northern Irish Sea along the existing Western Link cable route.
The survey will utilise a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) with cable detection and Multibeam echosounder systems. Marine mammal observations will also be undertaken during the operation. The survey work will be conducted by the vessel MV Scotia.
The location of the survey work is illustrated in a map in the Notice to Mariners that can be downloaded here.
Timing
The operations are due to begin as early as the 5th of December 2025 and could extend until the 2oth of December 2025. These dates are subject to weather and sea conditions over this period.
Vessel details
The MV Scotia is a 67m survey vessel. It has a yellow hull and a white superstructure. Information about the vessel, including its current location, can be found at the Marine Traffic website using the link below:-
- MV Scotia: Survey vessel | Call sign LANJ8
The survey vessel will operate on a 24 hour basis.
Fishing vessels operating in the area are asked to deploy static fishing gear in a manner that will minimise the risk of entanglement during the survey period.
The vessel involved in this work may be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and other vessels are reminded to pass at a safe speed and maintain a wide berth of at least 0.5 nautical miles distance.
Vessels operating in the area are asked to contact MV Scotia on VHF Channel 16 to obtain information on planned activity and to allow coactivity and cooperation.