This is an update for mariners about the cable repair works that are being conducted on the export cable from the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm near to Abergele in North Wales.
The replacement cable has now been installed. Work is now being carried out to bury the new cable and remedial works are being carried out on the previous cable. This work is ongoing and is due to be completed in mid-September 2025.
A Notice to Mariners describing this work can be downloaded here and is summarised below.
Nature of Operations
Two vessels will be working on the burial of the new cable and remedial works on the previous cable. All works are due to take place wihin 5km of the shore close to Abergele.
The vessel Green Isle is conducting cable burial operations and remedial work on the previous cable. Green Isle is a tug measuring 27.27m LOA and 11.5m in beam. Green Isle will operate on a 12-hour basis.
Closer to the shore, backfilling operations to cover the cable will be carried out by the vessel Capall Mara which is a jack-up vessel measuring 39.6m in length, 14m beam, with a dark hull and a red superstructure. Capall Mara will work on a 24-hour basis.
These vessels will be supported by the Crew Transfer Vessel CRC Gladiator which is 14m in length, 5m beam, and has a dark hull wiht a grey coloured superstructure.
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 burial work is ongoing and is due to extend until the second week of September 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:-
- Green Isle: Tug | Call sign 2IAV3
- Capall Mara: Jack up / trenching vessel | Call sign MBSF3
- CRC Gladiator: Crew Transfer Vessel | Call sign 2IUR3
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.
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.