The Department of Transport has been advised by Mullock & Sons (Shipbrokers) Ltd that Alcatel Submarine Networks will lay part of the 2AFRICA submarine cable system in the Irish exclusive economic zone.
The operation will consist of three stages: route clearance and pre-lay grapnel run; the laying of the cable; and post-lay inspection and burial.
It will take place from Sunday 28 July to Saturday 28 September, subject to weather and operational constraints.
The route clearance and pre-lay grapple run will be performed by the anchor-handling vessel Guard Supplier (callsign LFFR3). During this stage, all debris on the seabed surface that may obstruct the ploughing process will be removed. The vessel will operate as close to shore as possible. Divers will remove debris near shore or adjust the cable route if debris cannot be removed.
Ploughing and cable-laying operations will be performed by the cable laying vessel Ile de Batz (callsign FOSU). A plough will be deployed from the stern of the vessel and towed behind it, burying the cable into the seabed as it progresses along the route. After the streamed cable is laid down on the seabed, it will be connected to a buoy that is left on the sea surface so the vessel can continue with activities on other cable sections.
The post-lay grapnel run will be performed by the cable laying vessel Ile D’Ouessant (callsign FLVV). From this vessel, water-jetting remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) will be deployed. The ROVs will be either tracked or free-swimming: the former use caterpillar tracks to move along the seabed, while the latter are buoyant and have very little contact with the seabed.
All three vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, hence other vessels are kindly requested to keep a wide berth. They will display appropriate lights and signals and will broadcast regular safety messages giving their current position and activity.
A map and full coordinates of the survey area, as well as contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 44 of 2024, attached below.
