#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises of a 3D seismic survey in the Porcupine Basin off the Kerry coast to begin in early July for a period of seven weeks, weather permitting.

Polarcus, on behalf of Kosmos Energy Ireland, is scheduled to carry out the work over an area of more than 5,700 square kilometres in a region previously identified as having potential for enormous oil reserves.

Carrying out the survey will be the seismic vessel M/V Polarcus Amani (Call sign: C6ZD3). The vessel will be towing 10 cables, each 7.2km long and 150m apart, at a depth of 10m. The total width of the array is 1.35km. A buoy with a radar reflector and navigation strobe light will be deployed at the end of each cable.

The seismic vessel will also be accompanies by the support vessel M/V Bravo Sapphire (Call sign: ZDJY8) and chase vessel M/V Calvin (Call sign: 3EGU4). All three will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

The work vessels will also be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre while carrying out the survey, and all other vessel are requested to give these operations a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas.

Full details of co-ordinates and a map of the work area are included in Marine Notice No 28 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Marine Notice No. 27 of 2013

Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and Seafarers
Umbilical Installation between Corrib Gas Field and Broad Haven Bay, North-West County Mayo, Ireland

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised by Shell E&P Ireland Limited that two offshore guard vessels have been deployed to protect the umbilical installation at the location below:

From: 54°20.34'N, 011°03.51'W (Corrib Offshore Field location)
To: 54°17.00'N, 009°49.24'W (landfall).
The area of activity stretches along the route of the existing Corrib offshore gas pipeline.

The guard vessel details are as follows:
Neptun 10 ZDJQ8
Neptune Mariner ZDIW8

The Neptun 10 is on location west of Erris Head and will remain there until Mid-September. The Neptune Mariner is in the Corrib Field and will also remain until Mid-September..

All mariners are reminded of their responsibilities under the International Collision Regulations and are reminded of Marine Notice No. 17 of 2007 , which gives general advice in relation to the activities of vessels engaged in survey work for hydrographic, seismic, fishing research and underwater operations.

The International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) are implemented in Irish law by the Merchant Shipping ( Collision Regulations) (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Order 2012 [S.I. No. 507 of 2012], and the Signals of Distress (Ships) Rules 2012 [S.I. No.170 of 2012] . See Marine Notice No. 06 of 2013 . These Statutory Instruments may be purchased by mail order from Government Publications, Office of Public Works, 52 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 6476834/1890-213434. They are also available online at: www.irishstatutebook.ie .

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be undertaken by INFOMAR off the south coast of Ireland between 10 July and 7 August 2013. 

The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) is expected to carry out the survey operations within an area bounded by co-ordinates detailed in Marine Notice No 26 of 2013, which is available to read or download HERE.

The vessel will be towing a magnetometer sensor with a single cable of up to 100m in length. The RV Celtic Voyager will display appropriate lights and markers and will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

All mariners are reminded of their responsibilities under the International Collision Regulations and are reminded of Marine Notice No 17 of 2007, which gives general advice in relation to the activities of vessels engaged in survey work for hydrographic, seismic, fishing research and underwater operations.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that ENI Ireland BV, in conjunction with DCENR/PAD, is scheduled to conduct a 2D seismic survey in the Atlantic waters of the Irish Designated Continental Shelf (as defined under Part VI of UNCLOS).

The planned start of the survey is early June and, weather permitting, will continue until mid-October 2013. The seismic acquisition will be carried out by the seismic vessel M/V BGP Explorer (Call sign HP4919) and will be accompanied at all times by guard vessel M/V South (Call sign PJKE).

This proposed survey consists of 18,000km of a full fold 2D seismic survey in offshore waters beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit, and extends into international (high seas) waters.

The M/V BGP Explorer will travel at a speed of 4-5 knots, towing a single solid 10km streamer located approximately 10m below the surface. Both work vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

All vessels, particularly those engaged in fishing, are requested to give the M/V BGP Explorer and the M/V South a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas.

For co-ordinates of the seismic survey areas see Marine Notice No 25 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that a drill ship will begin intervention work for Shell E&P Ireland Ltd on the Corrib Gas Field from late June to early July.

The vessel West Navigator (Call sign 3ERR2) is expected to be on location for a period of 45 days, weather permitting, to work on a series of wells. Co-ordinates are detailed in Marine Notice No 24 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

All mariners are reminded of the 'safety zone' in place around the Corrib Gas Field development, and especially those engaged in fishing are requested to give the West Navigator a wide berth of at least 500 metres.

The vessel will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

This follows notice of umbilical installation works between the Corrib Gas Field at the mainland that will continue till July, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

#MarineNotice - The busy waters of the Celtic Sea will next month see yet another seismic survey.

Marine Notice No 23 of 2013 advises that Seabird Exploration, on behalf of Spectrum Geo Limited, is scheduled to carry out a 2D seismic survey over the Celtic Basin from the beginning of June till the end of July.

The seismic acquisition will be carried out by the vessel M/V Harrier Explorer (Call sign 3EIE3), which will be accompanied at all times by guard vessel M/V Nomad (Call sign EI5298).

The proposed survey consists of 3,570km of a 2D seismic survey over the Celtic Basin. The survey vessel will travel at 4-5 knots, towing a single solid 8km streamer located some 9 metres below the surface, with a turning diameter of approximately 5km required.

Both vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project. All vessels, especially those engaged in fishing, are requested to give them a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas - the co-ordinates of which are outlined in the PDF available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - CGG, on behalf of Fastnet Oil & Gas, is scheduled to carry out a full 3D seismic survey at Mizzen Basin in the Celtic Sea off the south-west coast beginning this month.

Details of this survey - as part of Fastnet's option on the Deep Kinsale Prospect - were previously reported on Afloat.ie but some details have been amended since.

The survey is expected to run for 35 days, subject to weather.

For full details - including co-ordinates of the work areas - see Marine Notice No 22 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - Cork County Council is due to commence a 15-metre extension of the Town Pier in Kinsale in Co Cork.

The works are due to take place from this week till early December 2013, and will comprise the excavation of the sea bed from a pontoon barge (barge to be confirmed) for the installation of a mass concrete base and pier walls (15m x 30m).

Divers will be deployed throughout the underwater works. Hydrographic surveying will be carried out at intermittent stages throughout the works. Buoys will be deployed to mark the works area around the pier.

The commercial berth and north berth of the pier will remain operational throughout the works.

For further details of the works area see Marine Notice No 21 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that umbilical installation and associated works between the Corrib Gas Field and the mainland and Broad Haven Bay in Co Mayo will commence tomorrow 8 May.

The area of activity stretches along the route of the existing Corrib pipeline, and will continue till the umbilical pull-in to Glengad and subsequent lay away of the umbilical next month, followed by further tie-in works in the Corrib field to be completed by mid-July, weather permitting.

A number of work and service vessels will be used throughout the offshore works period, with various tasks from installing the main umbilical to post-lay jetting.

In order to create a safe working environment for the near-shore diving activities and the umbilical pull-in, a Safety Zone around the bellmouth (250m radius) will be identified with red marker buoys spaced at 75m interval around the circumference of the zone.

All vessels in the vicinity are requested to keep clear of the works as these works progress along the pipeline route and to comply with requests from support vessels and safety boats.

Furthermore, all vessels are requested to monitor and comply with the Radio Navigational Warnings that will be broadcast for the duration of the works. All vessels involved in the operations will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Full details of co-ordinates of the work area and the work vessels involved are included in Marine Notice No 20 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has issued a Marine Notice advising that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation is taking place off the south coast till 4 June.

The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) - which performed a similar task off the Clare coast last month - is carrying out the survey operations in an area along the Cork coast marked out in Marine Notice No 18 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

The vessel will be towing a magnetometer sensor with a single cable of up to 100m in length. As usual, the vessel will display appropriate lights and markers, and will be listening on VHP Channel 16 throughout the project.