A pair of scientific deep-sea moorings have been redeployed at the Goban Spur off the southwestern continental shelf.

Further to the relevant Marine Notice posted in June 2020, the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has successfully recovered moorings EB-1 and EB-3 and redeployed them at new coordinates. Recovery is planned for 2022.

Both are free-falling moorings anchored by ~1,000kg bottom weights. Scientific instruments are attached at different depths to ropes and chains. Sub-surface floatation bodies will keep the moorings upright.

As this is sensitive scientific equipment, it is kindly requested that fishermen and marine operators engaged in such activities as bottom trawling or laying of static gear avoid the locations concerned to avoid damaging the equipment or damaging fishing gear.

Mariners should take note that neither of the moorings has a surface element or surface buoy. Top elements and floatation bodies have orange colours. The shallowest elements are located at depths of 700m (mooring EB-1) and 450m (mooring EB-3).

The top elements of both moorings carry radio and iridium beacons that only signal once the top element is at the surface.

Details of the locations of these dee-sea moorings and contact information are included in Marine Notice No 49 of 2021, which is available to download below.

Two scientific deep-sea moorings deployed at the Goban Spur off the southwestern continental shelf last year will be recovered and redeployed next week.

German research vessel Meteor (Callsign DBBH) will be involved in the redeployment on behalf of the University of Bremen and the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), which is scheduled to begin next Monday 29 June and conclude Saturday 4 July, as part of scientific cruise M164 (GPF-19-1-105).

Similar to their current deployment, the deep-sea moorings will stay in the water for a period of about 13-14 months (to July/August 2021).

Both have been anchored by ~1,000kg bottom weights. Scientific instruments are attached at different depths to ropes and chains. Sub-surface floatation bodies will keep the moorings upright.

As this is sensitive scientific equipment, it is kindly requested that fishermen and marine operators engaged in such activities as bottom trawling or laying of static gear avoid the locations concerned to avoid damaging the equipment or damaging fishing gear.

Details of the locations of these dee-sea moorings and contact information are included in Marine Notice No 24 of 2020, which is available to download below.

The German University of Bremen and the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) have successfully deployed two scientific deep-sea moorings (called EB-1 and EB-3) at Goban Spur off the southwestern Irish shelf, similar to those deployed in 2016 and again last year.

The deep-sea moorings, which were deployed between 24 and 25 May, will stay in the water for a period of about 13-14 months (to June/July 2020).

Both have been anchored by ~1,000kg bottom weights. Scientific instruments are attached at different depths to ropes and chains. Sub-surface floatation bodies will keep the moorings upright.

The location of the deep-sea moorings is detailed in Marine Notice No 16 of 2019, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

As this is sensitive scientific equipment, it is kindly requested that fishermen and marine operators engaged in such activities as bottom trawling or laying of static gear avoid the locations concerned to avoid damaging the equipment or damaging fishing gear.

None of the moorings has a surface element or surface buoy. The shallowest elements are located at depths of 700m (mooring EB-1) and 500m (mooring EB-3).

Top elements and floatation bodies have orange or yellow colours. The top elements of mooring EB-1 carries a flag.

Both moorings are equipped with radio and Iridium/Argos beacons that only signal, once the top element is at the surface.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) and the University of Bremen will deploy three scientific deep-sea moorings at Goban Spur off the southwestern Irish shelf.

The work will be carried out by the German research vessel Maria S Merian (Callsign DBBT) and is expected to start on or around Sunday 3 April, lasting for approximately five days, weather permitting.

The top elements of all three moorings are yellow or orange in colour and carry flags as well as radio and Iridium beacons that only signal once the top element is at the surface. Scientific instruments are attached at different depths to ropes and chains. Sub-surface floatation bodies will keep the moorings upright.

As this is sensitive scientific equipment it is requested that fishermen and marine operators engaged in such activities as bottom trawling or laying of static gear avoid the locations concerned.

The moorings will be in place for a period of 12-15 months and will be positioned at the locations detailed in Marine Notice No 12 of 2016, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.