This is an update for mariners about the cable repair works that are due to be conducted on the export cable from the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm near to Abergele in North Wales between July and August 2025. A Notice to Mariners for this work can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Nature of Operations
These works will include the replacement of a cable within the Gwynt y Môr export cable corridor. All works are due to take place wihin 5km of the shore close to Abergele.
The repair works will be carried out by the Cable Repair Vessel (CRV) Curo, which has a dark coloured hull and a white superstructure, measuring 87m LOA with a beam of 28m. CRV Curo will be supported by two anchor handling vessels, Leanne P and Sandy M. During the repair the CRV Curo will be mostly moving on an anchor spread with floating anchor wires that may extend several hundred metres from the vessel. CRV Curo will opearate on a 24-hour basis.
A separate vessel, Green Isle, will remove the existing cable and prepare the replacement cable for installation by CRV Curo. Green Isle is a tug measuring 27.27m LOA and 11.5m in beam. Green Isle will operate on a 12-hour basis.
The installation and repair vessels will be supported by the Crew Transfer Vessel CRC Gladiator, and the open RIBs Georgie Boy, Catalina, Dakota and Tristar.
These vessels will work within an area extending approximately 5km offshore. The location of the work is illustrated in the Notice to Mariners here .
Cable replacement work is due to start on or around 22nd July 2025 and extend until the second half of August 2025. These dates are subject to weather and sea conditions.
This work is being carried out under Marine Licence CML1452v2, and the Notice to Mariners has been issued in accordance with the licence conditions.
Vessel details
Information about the vessels carrying out the cable repair work, including their current location can be found at the Marine Traffic website using the links below:-
- Curo: Cable Repair Vessel | Call sign PCSA
- Leanne P: Utility vessel | Call sign 2HMX9
- Sandy M: Utility vessel | Call sign 2FFC5
- Green Isle: Tug | Call sign 2IAV3
- Georgie Boy: High speed craft | Call sign MNQ14
- CRC Gladiator: Crew Transfer Vessel | Call sign 2IUR3
- Catalina: Open RIB | Call sign 2FQW6
- Dakota: Open RIB | Call sign 2FQW8
- Tristar: Open RIB | Call sign 2FQW9
The vessels will display the prescribed lights and signals for their operations and will monitor VHF Channel 12 & 16 at all times.
During this work the vessels will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. Other vessels are kindly requested to pass at a safe speed and maintain a wide berth of at least 1000m distance due to works on the cable and on an extended anchor spread around CRV Curo.
Further details about the repair works are given in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Notices to Mariners
Mariners are advised that the following Notices to Mariners have been issued for the Gwynt y Môr windfarm and export cable and remain current:-
- Gwynt y Mor export cable: Trenching works – this notice was issued in June 2025. It advises mariners of diving operations close to the shore near to Abergele (now completed) and the start of trenching works from the low water mark to a distance approximately 990m offshore. A notice to mariners advising of these works can be accessed here.
- Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm: risk of cable exposure – this notice was issued in September 2021. It advises mariners that there are areas where cables may be exposed within the windfarm array, and that these areas are subject to change in response to tidal and weather effects on the seabed. The information in this notice, as well as links to advice on fishing near cables and renewable energy structures and links to the cable array map for the windfarm can be accessed here.
Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about this notice.