Following the start of route clearance and pre-lay operations last month, SubCom will carry out cable installation works along the route of the Grace Hopper subsea fibre optic cable system route in the Irish EEZ from this weekend.

The first of two operations begins this Saturday 29 May and continues to Wednesday 30 June, with the second set to run from 26 July to 15 August, both weather permitting.

The operations will be conducted from the CS Responder (callsign V7CY9) which will display appropriate lights and shapes and will be listening to VHF Channel 16 (but can be set to any other as required).

The CS Responder will be towing stern-deployed equipment and so will be restricted in its manoeuvrability. All vessels operating within its work area are requested to keep their distance, and pass at minimum speed to reduce vessel wash.

Full details of relevant coordinates are included in Marine Notice No 34 of 2021, a PDF of which can be downloaded below.

The Department of Transport has been advised of a route clearance and pre-lay grapnel run, on behalf of SubCom LLC, across the pathway of the Grace Hopper subsea fibre optic cable system route in the Irish EEZ.

Operations were set to begin today, Saturday 24 April and will continue to Friday 30 July, weather depending, and will be conducted by the Nautilus (callsign EAOL). The vessel will be listening to VHF Channel 16 but can be set to any other as required.

Nautilus will be towing stern-deployed equipment and will be restricted in manoeuvrability. All vessels operating within this area are requested to keep their distance, and pass at minimum speed to reduce vessel wash.

Details of coordinates of the works over the next three months are include in Marine Notice No 26 of 2021, which can be downloaded below.