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Displaying items by tag: Celtic Interconnector

The Department of Transport has been notified by JD-Contractor that they will be performing out-of-service cutting and route clearance works on behalf of Nexans for CIDAC as part of the Celtic Interconnector Project.

The works will be located at various points along the planned subsea electricity cable route between the southeast coast of Ireland and the northern coast of France.

Works will begin on Wednesday 24 April and will continue for approximately 10 days, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The out-of-service (OOS) cable-cutting operations will be conducted within the cable corridor extending plus or minus 50 metres each side of planned cable centreline. The relevant waypoints can be found in Marine Notice No 20 of 2024, attached below.

The works will be conducted by the vessel MV Detector (callsign OUIV2) which will display the relevant lights and shapes during periods of restricted manoeuvrability and adhere to the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and all licensing requirements.

During OOS cutting operations, the vessel will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and will actively transmit an AIS signal. A listening watch will also be maintained on VTS VHF channels as appropriate. The vessel will broadcast daily, and at shorter intervals as may be required by passing traffic, the vessel position, operational information and planned operations for the next 24 hours.

Maps and coordinates as well as contact details are included in the Marine Notice below.

Published in Power From the Sea

The Department of Transport has been advised that Next Geosolutions will perform shallow geotechnical surveys, pUXO ID surveys and KP5 Omega Loop surveys as part of the Celtic Interconnector Project cable route between the South-East Coast of Ireland and the coast of France.

The survey is expected to be completed over a 10-day period from this Wednesday 10 April, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Survey operations will be conducted within the cable corridor extending around 50m each side of the planned cable centreline.

The survey vessel NG Worker (callsign ICID) will carry out the survey works. Mariners are advised to provide a wide berth and navigate with caution in the area.

During survey operations, the vessel will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and will actively transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal. A listening watch will also be maintained on VTS VHF channels as appropriate.

The survey vessel shall broadcast daily, and at shorter intervals as may be required by passing traffic, the vessel position, operational information and planned operations for the next 24 hours. It is requested that fixed fishing gear within 1,000m of the route centreline be removed.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 13 of 2024 attached below.

Published in Power From the Sea

Next Geosolutions will perform a detailed marine, geotechnical and UXO survey on behalf of Nexans for CIDAC as part of the Celtic Interconnector project.

These surveys will follow the planned route of the Celtic Interconnector offshore power cable route between the South East Coast of Ireland and the coast of France.

Works will begin on Saturday 29 April (subject to weather and operational constraints) and will take approximately 169 days, of which 26 will be within Irish waters.

The surveys will be conducted by two vessels for both offshore and nearshore operations. The OSV Relume (callsign C6TR4) will be conducting the detailed marine, geotechnical and UXO survey works in the offshore areas and operations will be conducted on a 24-hour basis. Nearshore operations will be conducted by the vessel Deep Volans (callsign PETL) on a 12-hours basis.

Both vessels will display the relevant lights and shapes during periods of restricted manoeuvrability and adhere to COLREGS and all licensing requirements.

During operations both vessels will be running survey lines, and all other vessels operating in the area are requested to leave a wide berth. Both survey vessels will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and will actively transmit an AIS signal. A listening watch will also be maintained on VTS VHF channels as appropriate.

Maps and coordinates of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 29 of 2023 attached below.

Published in Power From the Sea

Planning permission has been granted for the East Cork landfall segment of the €1bn Celtic Interconnector power link between Ireland and France, according to RTÉ News.

The 500km subsea cable, a joint project of EirGrid and France’s Réseau de Transport d’Electricité, will be the first direct energy link between the two countries, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Following a public consultation three years ago, a site at Youghal was chosen for the landfall section at the Irish end.

Approval by An Bord Pleanála covers the cable plus associated infrastructure such as that for power conversion and connection to the national grid.

Pending the granting of a foreshore licence for offshore developments, as well as a marine licence from UK authorities for the cable route, it’s expected the Celtic Interconnector could be activated by 2026.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

Published in Power From the Sea

The State’s electricity transmission grid operator EirGrid has opened a two-month consultation on proposed south coast landfall and converter station locations for its electricity link between France and Ireland writes Lorna Siggins.

The Celtic Interconnector will be the first direct energy link between Ireland and France, running some 500 km under the sea from east Cork to the French north-west coast. A further 40 km of underground cable will be laid on land.

The project is being jointly developed by EirGrid and Réseau de Transport d'Électricité, the French electricity transmission system operator, with a target completion date of 2026.

Eirgrid is seeking the public’s reaction to a shortlist of three proposed landfall locations, and a shortlist of six proposed location zones for a converter station in east Cork.

The convertor station converts direct current electricity to alternating current and vice versa.

It has scheduled a series of public information days in east Cork between April 23rd and May 3rd (see list below).

The state-owned company says that the link will “put downward pressure” on the cost of electricity, while improving security of supply, providing a direct fibre optic telecommunications link, and facilitating further development of renewable sources.

A previous consultation round had confirmed east Cork as the most suitable location in Ireland for the project, which will have a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW).

Eirgrid says this capacity is enough to power 450,000 households, and the cable will allow both the import and export of electricity.

Eirgrid says that the proposed shortlisted landfall locations - Ballinwilling strand, Redbarn beach, and Claycastle beach – between Ballycotton and Youghal in east Cork were selected from a list of five.

The proposed shortlisted sites for the converter station are in Ballyadam, Leamlara, Knockraha, Pigeon Hill, Kilquane and Ballyvatta - all inland and north of Cobh - and these locations were selected from a list of 14 options, it says.

Eirgrid says that each location was assessed against five criteria; economic, technical, environmental, socioeconomic and deliverability.

EirGrid is encouraging communities and stakeholders to “share their feedback” on the proposed shortlists.

“The shortlists are provisional. Feedback from communities, local representatives, and other stakeholders will be critical to ensuring that we can assess each option fully and make informed decisions when confirming the shortlists,” Eirgrid spokeswoman Louise Glennon states.

Stakeholders, communities and members of the public are invited to respond by Monday, June 10th, by online, by email, by phone, in writing or by attending one of a number of information days in east Cork, as below:

Lisgoold Community Centre - Tuesday 23 April - 2pm – 8pm

Knockraha Community Centre - Wednesday 24 April - 2pm – 8 pm

Carrigtwohill Community Centre - Tuesday 30 April - 6pm – 9pm

Midleton Park Hotel - Wednesday 1 May - 2pm – 8pm

Cloyne Parochial Hall - Thursday 2 May - 6pm – 9pm

Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal - Friday 3 May - 2pm – 8pm

Published in Power From the Sea

#MarineNotice - The survey vessel VOS Sweet (Callsign PCPE) is currently conducting offshore geotechnical and environmental survey operations associated with the proposed Celtic Interconnector on behalf of EirGrid.

The VOS Sweet was set to commence operations yesterday, Monday 18 June, and will operate on a 24-hour daily basis for approximately two weeks in two main corridors off East Cork to three landfall points: Ballinwilling Strand (Ballycotton Bay); Redbarn Beach and Claycastle Beach (Youghal Bay).

The survey is to collect geotechnical data utilising a Vibrocorer (VC) and Cone Penetration Test (CPT) spread and environmental (benthic) data utilising Grab Sampler spread. The survey will be conducted under Foreshore Licence FS006811. Common frequency VHF Channel 16 shall be used throughout the project.

Details of the route centreline co-ordinates as well as intended locations for the VC, CPT and benthic sampling are included in Marine Notice No 26 of 2018, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Meanwhile, Providence Resources is carrying out a site survey on its FEL 6/14 licence, called Newgrange, situated between the Southern Porcupine and Goban Spur Basins some 260km off the South West Coast.

The eight-day geophysical survey by the MV Kommandor (Callsign MCJO2), was scheduled to commence on Monday, is using dual-frequency side scan sonar, single-beam and multi‐beam echosounders, side scan sonar, sub‐bottom profilers and magnetometer.

Seabed (benthic) samples will also be taken using a box corer or grab as appropriate, and geotechnical sampling will be undertaken with a piston corer to a minimum target depth of 6m below the seabed.

In addition to the above, and to accurately determine potential future drilling hazards over the Newgrange location, the proposed survey will also include a high resolution 2D seismic which is not expected to exceed two days.

Survey operations will be conducted on a 24-hour basis. The MV Kommandor will be displaying shapes and lights prescribed in the International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Rule 27, to indicate that the survey vessel is restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. A listening watch will be maintained on VHF Channel 16, and the vessel will actively transmit an AIS signal.

Co-ordinates and a map of the expected working area are outlined in Marine Notice No 25 of 2018, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Published in Coastal Notes

#MarineNotice - The Sandpiper jack-up platform is conducting nearshore geotechnical survey operations associated with the proposed Celtic Interconnector on behalf of EirGrid south of East Cork.

Similar to last autumn’s nearshore survey, the operations are taking place at three coastal locations – namely Ballinwilling Stran, Redbarn Beach and Claycastle Beach.

The Sandpiper (Callsign V3UA) will operate on a 24-hour daily basis commencing at the earliest from the Monday 14 May for approximately two weeks.

The Sandpiper is a non-self-propelled jack-up barge measuring 18.3m x 12.2m consisting of five Quadra pontoons and two duo pontoons with four 27m legs. The Sandpiper will be towed by the Trojan (Callsign EIEX6), a tug measuring 16m x 5m. Common frequency VHF Channel 16 shall be used throughout the project.

The survey will be conducted under Foreshore Licence FS006811, and is to collect geotechnical data utilising drilling spread only.

The nearshore survey activities will extend no more than 5km from the shoreline within a 500m area or corridor centred on the co-ordinates detailed in Marine Notice No 21 of 2018, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Published in Coastal Notes

#MarineNotice - The survey vessel Kommandor Iona is conducting offshore survey operations associated with the proposed Celtic Interconnector, on behalf of EirGrid.

As with last month’s nearshore survey, the current works are in two main corridors to three landfall points off the South Coast of Ireland, namely Ballinwilling Strand, Redbarn Beach, Claycastle Beach.

The Kommandor Iona (Callsign: GAAK) was scheduled to begin operating on a 24-hour daily basis since this Tuesday (24 October) for approximately a week’s duration, collecting geophysical data utilising vessel mounted sensors and towed sonar extending up to 200m from the vessel.

The survey will be conducted under Foreshore Licence FS006722 in the deeper waters offshore from the Iona survey area limits.

Survey activities will extend no more than 35km from the shoreline within a 500m area or corridor centred on the co-ordinates listed in Marine Notice No 47 of 2017, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Those engaged in fishing are respectfully asked not to leave any static fishing equipment within a distance of 250 metres of the proposed survey route centre lines as detailed in the route position list, and skippers are advised to withdraw and keep beyond a safe distance (1 nautical mile) from survey vessels.

Published in Coastal Notes

#MarineNotice - RMS Submarine Ltd advises that they will be conducting nearshore survey operations associated with the proposed Celtic Interconnector on behalf of EirGrid, at three coastal locations in Co Cork — namely Ballinwilling Strand, Redbarn Beach and Claycastle Beach.

The survey vessel Severn Guardian (Callsign 2FGL5), an 18m catamaran coastal survey vessel, will operate on a 12-hour daily basis, in daylight hours only, commencing from today (Thursday 28 September) for the next two weeks, approximately. Common frequency VHF Channel 16 shall be used throughout the project.

This survey is to collect geophysical data utilising vessel mounted sensors and a towed sonar which will extend up to 100m from the vessel. The survey will be conducted under Foreshore Licence FS006722, as per the foreshore licence map included in Marine Notice No 41 of 2017.

The nearshore survey activities will extend no more than 5km from the shoreline, within a 1km area or corridor centred at each of the three coastal locations. The remaining offshore sections will be surveyed by a separate vessel in the coming months, for which a separate notice to mariners will be issued.

Full details of co-ordinates of the work areas and more are included in Marine Notice No 41 of 2017, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Published in Coastal Notes

Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020