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Displaying items by tag: East West Interconnector

NKT will be carrying out an ROV cable survey of the East-West Interconnector (EWIC) cable on behalf of EirGrid to determine the condition of the cable laid 10 years ago.

The EWIC runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland in Co Meath, the marine segment being 187km in length with landfall at North Beach in Rush, Co Dublin.

This survey will run the entire length of the marine cable, with a small section of beach survey, from the beach in Ireland to the beach in Wales. The Irish side of the operation is expected to be completed between this Saturday 26 and Wednesday 30 November, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The geophysical condition survey will comprise a standard multi-beam echo sounder and side-scan sonar survey. Note that no ground truthing, sub-bottom profiling or magnetometry is taking place during this survey.

Works will be conducted by the cable installation vessel NKT Victoria (callsign LAWV7) which will display appropriate lights and signals. It will be supported in the near-shore area by the AMS Adventure and an underwater ROV (within two miles of the coast)/

As the vessel will be limited in its ability to manoeuvre at times when undertaking operations, other vessels are kindly requested to keep a wide berth.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 80 of 2022, attached below.

This story was updated on Friday 25 November with details of support vessels.

Published in Coastal Notes

About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.