This is an update to Mariners about the geotechnical survey operations that are due to be carried out along the export cable route of the proposed Awel y Môr Offshore Windfarm off the coast of North Wales.
The plans for this survey have changed slightly since the original Notice to Mariners was published earlier this month. The key changes are that the start of the survey has been moved forwards to the 31st of May, that the survey will extend to the 7th of July, and that the shallower inshore part of the survey will be carried out by the vessel Forth Constructor, whilst the larger vessel Connector will conduct the survey in deeper water.
A Notice to Mariners providing an update about these operations is summarised below and can be downloaded here.
Survey operations
The vessels Connector and Forth Constructor are due to be carrying out a survey of the seabed along the proposed export cable route for the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm between the 31st of May and the 7th of July 2026, subject to weather and sea conditions.
The survey vessels will deploy equipment for a geotechnical survey of the seabed which will include Cone Penetration Tests, Seismic Cone Penetrating Tests and Vibrocoring,
This work is being carried out under Marine Licence number RML 2323v4.
Vessel details
Connector is a Multi Purpose Offshore Vessel and is sailing under the flag of Denmark. Her length overall (LOA) is 90.2 metres and her width is 19 metres. She has a red hull and a white superstructure.
Forth Constructor is a buoy laying vessel and sails under the UK flag. Her length overall (LOA) is 40 meters and her width is 12 meters. She has a blue hull with red and whit markings and a white superstructure with a blue roof.
The details of these vessels and a link to their present location are given below:
- Connector: Survey vessel | Call sign OYOJ2
- Forth Constructor: Buoy laying vessel | Call sign MOWV8
When operating at the survey locations the vessels will be manoeuvering and engaged in recovering and deploying equipment so will be restricted in the ability to manoeuvre.
Mariners are requested to maintain a 500m exclusion area around the survey vessels for the safety of all sea users, and to contact the project marine coordinator and to monitor VHF Channel 16 when navigating in the vicinity of the survey vessels.
Further information about the survey area and vessel contact details are available in the Notice to Mariners which can be downloaded here.
Notices to Mariners
The notices to mariners relating to the proposed Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm that are currently active are listed here:-
- Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Export Cable Route: Update on Geotechnical Survey Operations, June-July 2026: this is the notice described above. It was first issued on May 19th and updated on May 29th. It provides information on the geotechnical survey operations (Cone Penetrating Tests, Seismic Cone Penetrating Tests and Vibrocoring) that are being carried out by the survey vessels Connector and Forth Constructor between the 31st of May and 7th of July 2026. The notice to Mariners can be accessed here.
- Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm: Geotechnical Survey Operations, May-June 2026: this notice was first issued on April 30th and updated on May 12th. It provides information on the geotechnical survey operations (Cone Penetrating Tests, Seismic Cone Penetrating Tests and Vibrocoring) that are being carried out by the survey vessel Connector between the 16th of May and 20th of June 2026. The notice to Mariners can be accessed here.
- Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm: Geophysical Survey Operations, May-July 2026: this notice was issued on 8th of May 2026 and describes the geophysical survey operations due to be carried out by the survey vessel Ramform Vanguard between the 25th of May and 25th of July 2026. The notice to Mariners 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.