News

See detailed map on our bulletin website

On the 31st August 2024, a survey surrogate target was deployed to the seabed, consisting of 2 iron cylinders approximately 1m x 0.5m, and a lump of chain, separated by 100m of ground line. Above each weight consists of a survey LRT beacon (With 75m of rope stored inside) and two pellet buoys, sitting 2m above each target. Please see diagram below to illustrate the setup.

Surrogate Location: 57;35.132361, 06;27.2428243

Clump Location: 57;35.1886909, 06;27.2357140

Depth: 50-55m

Expected Recovery within 21 days of notice.

The table below provides the coordinates of the total working area of works to be undertaken by the Subsea Viking. 

The vessel shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array from the Port of Blyth throughout this period.

Vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the installation operations of at least 0.5 Nautical Miles. 

The length of Subsea Viking activities will vary depending on the execution progress, and details of any changes will be confirmed in further Notice to Mariners to be issued during the course of the project.

Mariners should be aware that some aspects of the work may result in a temporary reduction in navigable depth greater than 5%. Once installed, the cable protection system stabilisation is expected to have a reduction in navigable depth greater than 5%, localised in close proximity to the WTG.

The Subsea Viking shall be exhibiting the correct day shapes and night lights for a vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre. The vessel will be operating 24 hours per day.

Service Operation Vessels

The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) “Rem Power” & Daughter craft “Rem Transporter” continues to provide support to the SOWF project throughout the construction of the offshore windfarm.

SOVs continue to support Inter Array Cable works.

SOVs shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array and the port of Blyth / Sunderland throughout this period.

Mariners are requested to remain where possible 500m from vessels. During these works, SOVs will have restricted manoeuvrability and shall also be exhibiting the correct day shapes/ lights and flag for vessels engaged in diving operations and restricted in ability to manoeuvre.

Guard Vessels

While in operation, Guard vessels 'Defender' and 'Defiant' will be present in the field in close proximity for guarding the cable lay vessel (Calypso) and SOV vessels (Acta Orion & Acta Auriga) when active in the operation.  The Defender is expected on site circa 11th September 2024.

The "Enterprise II” continues with infield and Export Cable Corridor guard vessel duties.

All vessels can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity / nearby operations etc.

The vessel shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array and the ports of Blyth & Sunderland throughout this period.

The exact start and finish dates will be dependent on the prevailing weather conditions and work progress.

Mariners are requested to remain where possible 500m from Calypso. During these works, Calypso will have restricted manoeuvrability and shall also be exhibiting the correct day shapes/ lights.

The Calypso can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity / nearby operations etc.

Service Operation Vessels

The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) “Rem Power” & Daughter craft “Rem Transporter” continues to support to the SOWF project throughout the construction of the offshore windfarm.

SOVs continue to support Inter Array Cable works.

SOVs shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array and the port of Blyth / Sunderland throughout this period.

Guard Vessels

While in operation, Guard vessels 'Defender' and 'Defiant' will be present in the field in close proximity for guarding the cable lay vessel (Calypso) and SOV vessels (Acta Orion & Acta Auriga) when active in the operation.  The Defender is expected on site circa 11th September 2024.

The "Enterprise II” continues with infield and Export Cable Corridor guard vessel duties.

Crew Transfer Vessel

The Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) ‘Maintainer’ is expected to commence operations infield circa 11th September 2024 and will be supporting Van Oord with infield personnel transfers and cargo runs between the Port of Blyth to the offshore array.

All vessels can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity / nearby operations etc.

Foundation Installation Works (Aeolus)

The Aeolus has commenced the Offshore Foundation Transport and Installation works within the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Array. These works include the transport and installation operations of primary components, namely Monopiles, and secondary components, namely Main Access Platforms, Internal Platforms, Boat Landings and Upper Ladders.

Vessels will be transiting to Sofia Offshore Wind Farm field from the Port of Tyne in the UK.

The following table highlights foundation installation progress and next 7 day forecast.

The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Exclusion Zone coordinates, are shown below and included within the relevant NtM.  Mariners are requested to remain outside this Exclusion Zone.

Vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and fishing vessels are advised to remain outside of the areas identified.

Service Operation Vessels

The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) “Rem Power” & Daughter craft “Rem Transporter” continues to support to the SOWF project throughout the construction of the offshore windfarm.

SOVs shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array and the port of Blyth / Sunderland throughout this period.

Mariners are requested to remain where possible 500m from vessels. During these works, SOVs will have restricted manoeuvrability and shall also be exhibiting the correct day shapes/ lights and flag for vessels engaged in diving operations and restricted in ability to manoeuvre.

Guard Vessels

While in operation, Guard vessels 'Defender' and 'Defiant' will be present in the field in close proximity for guarding the cable lay vessel (Calypso) and SOV vessels (Acta Orion & Acta Auriga) when active in the operation. The Defender is expected on site circa 11th September 2024.

The "Enterprise II” continues with infield and Export Cable Corridor guard vessel duties.

Crew Transfer Vessel

The Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) ‘Maintainer’ is expected to commence operations infield circa 11th September 2024 and will be supporting Van Oord with infield personnel transfers and cargo runs between the Port of Blyth to the offshore array.

All vessels can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity / nearby operations etc.

A regular service of Platform Supply Vessels commenced 8th September 2024 providing supplies to the Offshore Converter Platform & JUV Seafox 2 until further notice.  Those nominated vessels are:

• Dina Merkur;
• Dina Scout;
• Dina Supporter;
• Dina Supplier;
• FS Crathes;
• Bos Pool;
• Bos Base

An eight legged jacket with 8 driven pin piles has been installed as a foundation for the OCP followed by the OCP itself.

All vessels will be arriving from non UK Ports throughout.

The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Boundary Co-ordinates where the works will take place are provided below.  All non-project vessels are requested to remain outside this area.

The As Laid Coordinates of the anchors are also provided below.

Mariners are requested to remain where possible 500m from vessels. During these works, SOVs will have restricted manoeuvrability and shall also be exhibiting the correct day shapes/ lights and flag for vessels engaged in diving operations and restricted in ability to manoeuvre.

Emergency Response & Rescue Vessel

The EERV Putford Viking will commence “Stand-By” duties during the overside works on-board of the Sofia Offshore Converter Platform (OCP) circa. week commencing 9th September 2024 and is expected to arrive either from the Port of Great Yarmouth, or direct from another offshore installation within the North Sea.

Either the Putford Ajax or the Putford Achates will join the Putford Viking as an relief EERV week commencing 16th September 2024, and will arrive the UKCS or from the ports of Lowestoft / Great Yarmouth.

Service Operation Vessels

The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) “Rem Power” & Daughter craft “Rem Transporter” continues to support the SOWF project throughout the construction of the offshore windfarm.

SOVs shall be transiting to / from the Sofia Array and the port of Blyth / Sunderland throughout this period.

Guard Vessels

While in operation, Guard vessels 'Defender' and 'Defiant' will be present in the field in close proximity for guarding the cable lay vessel (Calypso) and SOV vessels (Acta Orion & Acta Auriga) when active in the operation.  The Defender is expected on site circa 11th September 2024.

The "Enterprise II” continues with infield and Export Cable Corridor guard vessel duties.

All vessels can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity / nearby operations etc.

The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Exclusion Zone coordinates, where the Kommandor Iona shall be operating are provided in the table below.

The Kommandor Iona will be conducting 24 hour operations and shall be exhibiting day signals and night lights identifying a Vessel Restricted in its Ability to Manoeuvre and all vessels are requested to give a wide berth.

The Kommandor Iona can be contacted on VHF 16 when infield and will be transiting to the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm from Great Yarmouth.

On the instruction of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution [herein SHEPD], a survey campaign is required to provide detailed information on the seabed characteristics of within Gunna Sound to enable a route engineering feasibility study to be undertaken as part of a planned submarine cable installation project between Coll and Tiree. The survey area is a 300m corridor.

One of two MCA Category III vessels - Marine Sensor or Coastal Sensor will be utilised on the project. Survey operations at this location is expected to commence within w/c 30th September 2024, with an anticipated duration of 21 days.

VESSEL DETAILS The vessels conducting these works will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and will display the appropriate lights and shapes.

Other vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and provide a minimum clearance of 500m (COLREGs Rule 16 &18) during marine operations. All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 throughout survey operations. Mobile contacts for the vessels are listed at the end of this NtM.

Mariners are advised that the following vessels will be arriving at the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm (TKOWF) as outlined within previously issued NtM's:

The Rockpiper will complete a “fly by” operation for Rock Dumping activities and is only expected to take 12 Hours maximum. Please note, weather may affect the date given but estimated to be on this date currently.  Mariners are requested to give a 500m clearance to the vessel whilst she is working in this area. The coordinates for this work are as follows: 53° 27.04' N 0° 53.38' E

Mariners are advised that the following vessels continue to be active at the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm (TKOWF) as outlined within previously issued NtM's:

Mariners are advised that all foundations monopiles have been installed and all inter-array and export cables have been installed.

Navigation Warning - 08th January 2021

Mariners are advised that the remnants of a Wave Rider Buoy sinker weight and partial rigging are located within the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Construction site at the following location;

53° 30.442N 000° 50.564E

It is advised that the partial rigging could potentially be floating up to 9.7m above the seabed, reducing the navigable safe water in the immediate area to 10m LAT.  Mariners are advised to avoid the indicated position by 250 metres.

Possible Dangers to Navigation - Properties of the polypropylene show that the rope is buoyant, this makes the line sensitive for thruster currents. Taking the site water depth into consideration (19.7m LAT) and the maximum expected height above seabed of the rope 9.7m the line is expected to be floating submerged at approximately -10m LAT. In addition, it is noted that over time sediments will be trapped between the fibres and the heavier rope may finally sink. The polypropylene rope may impose a risk to foul propellers / propulsion of vessels due to the buoyant nature of the rope. As the rope is submerged at a depth of ~-10m LAT the risk is considered minimum for vessels with a shallow draught (<5m) and medium for a vessel with a deeper draught (>5m). Over time sediments will be trapped between the fibres and the heavier rope may finally sink thereby reducing the risk to propellers/propulsion of vessels. The clump weight itself (chain) is expected to have sunk into the seabed and has no significant height above seabed. In addition, the edges of the clump weight are mostly rounded (chain), the risk the clump weigh imposes to fishing activities/gear is therefore considered to be minimal.

Navigation Warning - 16th March 2021

Mariners are advised that two UXO targets have been confirmed within the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Array.

Mariners are advised that the two confirmed targets are located within 20 metres water depth (LAT) and a 10 metre radius exclusion zone is required around each target.  The following table provides the coordinates and a description for each target.

The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Exclusion Zone coordinates, where the Glomar Worker shall be operating are detailed in the table below.

The vessel shall be exhibiting day signals and night lights identifying a Vessel Restricted in its Ability to Manoeuvre. All vessels are requested to give a wide berth and can be contacted on VHF 16 when infield.

The vessel will be transiting to Sofia Offshore Wind Farm from Great Yarmouth or Aberdeen.

This notice to mariners is to inform that TC East Anglia 1 OFTO ltd will be undertaking a subsea export cable repair at approximately KP44 of CCT 1 (North). Works will be carried out by Nexans AS acting as the principal contractor the using the dedicated cable lay vessel ‘Skagerrak’ which is expected to arrive on site circa 16th September 2024. Work duration is expected to be approximately 4 weeks.

The East Anglia One wind farm is located approximately 50 km off the coast of Suffolk in the North Sea.

Please be advised that confirmed Unexploded Ordinance has been identified at the following locations. In the interim period prior to disposal, all vessels are advised to stay clear of confirmed UXO locations within the EA3 CDM, ECR & NEAR SHORE AREAS. Please see attached notice to mariners for further information regarding exclusion zones.

G-Tec will be undertaking a geophysical survey over Bowdun (E3) Area Area utilising towed sensors. During the survey the vessel will be operating at approximately 4 knots with equipment being towed at a distance of up to 300m astern of the vessel.

Other vessels are requested to provide a minimum clearance of 500m from the survey vessel during marine operations and pass at a safe speed.

The works commenced on the 01st of July 2024 in the vicinity of Marske-by-the-Sea, approximately 750 metres from shore and will continue until around the 07th of September 2024.  The works will be continuous, 24 hours a day. A chart of the nearshore construction area is provided below.

The vessels Abeko Server 2 and Duke of Normandy will carry out seabed excavation for pit and trench creation and spoil management activities along the trench. The Abeko Server 2 will be manned 24 hours a day on site, with the Duke of Normandy providing support for barge movements and towing as needed.

The multicat vessel Waddenstroom will deploy a four-point mooring spread, including chain clumps, ground and riser chains, mooring cans with yellow marker lights, and flashing sequences. After installation, the Waddenstroom will carry out diving operations.

An Alucat vessel will assist in connecting and disconnecting the Waddenstroom mooring lines to the mooring array. The vessels will operate 24 hours a day on site. Diving operations involving exposing HDD exit points, preparing for cable installation, grouting, and sealing will be conducted, possibly including nighttime dives. Safety messages will be transmitted on CH16 to notify the start and end of diving operations.

The Seafast Don will conduct multi-beam echosounder surveys (MBES) of the seabed and along the pre-cut trench during dredging activities. Equipped on a side-mounted pole extended into the water, the survey gear will make several passes at reduced speed over the area. The Seafast Don will transit to the work site from the Port of Hartlepool periodically throughout the project.

The Seafast Don will be responsible for daily crew transfer operations from the Port of Hartlepool to the vessels Waddenstroom, Abeko Server 2 and NKT Victoria throughout the duration of the works.

During operations, the Waddenstroom will be anchored as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message. The Alpha Diving flag and the appropriate lights will be displayed during diving operations.

During operations, the Abeko Server 2 will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500m separation distance from the Wadenstroom and Abeko Server 2 and pass at reduced speed.

It is further requested that all vessels give the Seafast Don a wide berth and pass at reduced speed when the vessel is engaged in survey activities.

All vessels will monitor VHF CH16 and VHF DSC Ch70 continuously throughout.

The work will be performed in three Campaigns, with Campaign 3 / Section 3 covered by this NtM and starting approximately 10 September 2024 and continuing until approximately 31 October 2024. The work will be continuous, 24 hours a day. Coordinates and chart of the route are provided below.

Campaign 3 / Section 3 will comprise cable installation offshore between KP175 and the Dogger Bank C Wind Farm at KP255. The cable lay vessel, NKT Victoria will surface lay the export cable in a seaward direction from the in-line joint at KP175 to KP255.

During operations the NKT Victoria will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 1.5Nm separation distance from the Cable laying vessel and pass at reduced speed. Fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention should not be deployed when approaching the working corridor.

An Offshore Fisheries Liaison Officer will be onboard NKT Victoria to provide support and coordination to fishing vessels, please see contact details below.

In the period between cable lay operation until the cable has been permanently protected by means of burial or rock placement, the cable may be locally exposed on the seafloor and the construction working corridor will remain closed for any static fishing, anchoring or use of other equipment with seabed intervention. During this time the cable is sensitive to any external impact and constitutes a snagging risk for anchoring, fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention.

The work will be performed as from 15th of Sep 2024 up until approximately 25th of Sep 2024. Work will be continuous, 24 hours a day. 

During operations, the Yellowstone will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500m separation distance from the Yellowstone and pass at reduced speed.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

See detailed map on our bulletin website

Proposed survey activity:

Two survey vessels will be used for the survey, the Braveheart Spirit and the Four Winds. These will be supported by the Sorrento as a pilot vessel. The Braveheart Spirit is anticipated to mobilise on the 1sth of April from Ijmudien, Netherlands and begin survey works on the 3rd of April. The Four Winds is anticipated to mobilise on the 19th of April 2024 from Imjudien  and begin offshore works on the 21st of April. The works will last for approximately  51 days, allowing for mobilisation, survey operations, de-mobilisation and weather contingency. Note that the vessel will have limited manoeuvrability and it is requested that all vessels operating near the survey vessels maintain a safe distance (at least 500m) and pass at minimum speed.

Safety:

It is requested that anybody having knowledge of any potential objects submerged or moored on the seabed within the survey area that could be damaged or form a hazard to the survey vessel and its equipment advises Hornsea Three’s Onshore Fisheries Liaison of their position and nature. Hornsea Three has not requested the clearance of any static fishing gear within the survey boundary shown in Figure 1 and described in Section 7 of this Notice. When surveys commence, a listening watch will be maintained on VHF Channel 12 and 16 when the survey vessel is within the appropriate port authority area and will actively transmit an AIS signal.

NeuConnect is developing a new interconnector from the UK to Germany. The Project includes the development of a 1,400 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity transmission interconnector between the Isle of Grain, UK and Hooksiel, Germany, routed through UK territorial waters (TW), the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Dutch EEZ, and the German EEZ and TW. The submarine cable length is approximately 700 km.

In the interest of safety, Humber Gateway request that mariners observe the box SAFETY area (figure:1), until such time as the exposed cable is completely buried. The coordinates of this box are

Position A (NW Corner): 053° 39’.680N 000° 14’.584E

Position B (SW Corner): 53° 39’.161N 000° 14’.897E

Position C (SE Corner): 53° 39’.602N 000° 16’.701E

Position D (NE Corner): 53° 40’.106N 000° 16’.372E

See attached figure 1

Humber Gateway will be  monitoring activity within, and close to, this box and Guard Vessel Mimer  will be on station during the period where the cable is exposed located in the immediate vicinity of the cable. Mariners encroaching on this box will be contacted  by the Guard Vessel and reminded of the requests to avoid fishing or transiting through the identified box.

Sea attached Figure 2

Guard Vessel Mimer details:

Length: 24.46m

Beam: 7.1m

Draft: 3.51m

Gross Tonnage: 220

Call Sign: T7ACL

MMSI: 268240900

Vsat bridge: +31 (0) 255 78007

Mobile Phone: +31 (0) 255 787 007

Vessel E- Mail: mimer@dbconnect.nl

Mariners are reminded that further safety information related to array cable exposures can be found in “The Risks of Fishing Near Cables and Renewable Energy Structures”, published on the KIS-ORCA website https://kis-orca.org/safety/the-risks-of-fishing-near-cables-renewable-energy-structures/. General safety information can be found here: https://www.seafish.org/article/kingfisher-bulletins. All mariners are requested to make themselves aware of their obligations for conducting activities over buried and protected cables under International and UK Cable (Subsea) Protection Legislation.

Burial of the cable, by the vessel NORA-B (MMSI - 244170504, Callsign -PDKG) will take place between 11th September 2024 and 30th September 2024. A photograph of the Nora-B is attached to this notice. Nora-B will be additionally supported by the Artemis (MMSI - 241813000 , Callsign-SVDQ3)  during the operations.

Mariners are advised of coastal marine survey activities off Dounreay (Caithness) and Warebeth (Orkney) from 12th to 30th September 2024 surveys will be carried out by MPC Athenia the vessel shall be restricted in her ability to manouver. towed and/or over-the-side equipment will be in use. marine users are advised to keep well clear of the vessel while under survey operations.

The site investigation involves drilling, insitu testing and sampling of boreholes throughout the array area. The vessel will be stationary at each borehole location for up to 2 days to allow for insitu testing and samples to be taken from the seabed. 24, 48 and 72 hour lookaheads containing details of the positions of the vessels will be provide, upon request. 

See detailed map on our bulletin website

LOCATION DETAILS

Cable location and indicative survey corridors are noted below for information. Equipment calibration operations may take place out with the defined corridor and these areas will be chosen so as not to interfere with fishing / marine traffic activity.

VESSEL DETAILS

The vessels conducting these works will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and will display the appropriate lights and shapes.

Other vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and provide a minimum clearance of 500m (COLREGs Rule 16 & 18) during marine operations.

All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 throughout survey operations. Mobile contacts for the vessels are listed at the end of this NtM.

Mariners are advised about Marine Survey Works for the Eastern Green Link 2 Projects Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc and National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc are delivering  the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL 2) Project.

The EGL 2 project will play a vital role in achieving the UK and Scottish governments net zero targets  and significantly increase the UK’s capacity for clean, green renewable power.

The survey works for EGL 2 precedes the installation of an electricity transmission link from the East coast of Scotland (Sandford Bay, Peterhead) to the East coast of England (South of Bridlington/ Flamborough Head).   

The Nearshore works are to be conducted within the area shown by Figure 1 and coordinates also detailed in Table 1, both given below. All vessels shall pass at a safe speed and distance, whilst fishing vessels shall remain at a safe distance (approximately 500 meters where possible) (COLREGs Rule 16 & 18) from the areas identified during marine survey operations. The aforementioned survey vessels will be restricted in her ability to maneuver and shall deploy towed sensors during geophysical survey operations only. The survey vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 at all times. Mobile contacts for the vessels are listed at the end of this NtM

Survey will consist of geophysical data collection from towed sensos operated by Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). Survey running from 01/09/2024 and is expected to last 4 weeks subject to weather. Upto 4 vessels will be operational at any one time during this period. The USVs will be operating out of Eyemouth Harbour for the first couple of weeks followed by Hartlepool thereafter. A crewed Support Vessel will be based in these ports at all times to assist the USVs in escorting in out of the harbour in an emergency. The USVs, although uncrewed, are remotely controled at all times and are equipped with cameras, AIS, radar along with other situational awareness sensors. A closest point of approach of 0.5nm should be maintained with the USV at all times.

The vessel 'Green Isle' will be used for the instillation works. 

The deployed equipment will comprise a seabed frame, equipped with metocean instrumentation, connected via a ground line to a secondary anchor weight and recovery system. This secondary anchor weight will be positioned up to 270 m away from the seabed frame. An accompanying guard buoy complete with lantern and AIS will also be deployed. Due to ground conditions, the mooring design at the D1 location differs from above. Equipment will comprise a subsurface ‘stumpy’ mooring which will not be visible from the water surface. No guard buoy will be deployed at this location. Specific locations are charted within the attached NtM. 

All vessels are requested to maintain a safe distance (500m) from any maintenance vessels at all times. All vessels are requested to maintain a safe distance (400m) from the deployed monitoring equipment as shown in Section 2 at all times (detailed in attached NtM).

The outline of the survey works is as follows: 

• Start: September 2024
• Scheduled servicing: November 2024 – January 2025, weather dependent
• Recovery: March 2025

Geophysical survey of the above area will be undertaken using vessel mounted multibeam echosounder.

The vessel will be carrying out several parallel runs.

Mariners are advised to provide the vessel with ample clearance.

The survey office is contactable on 01463 236539

Vessel:

Pioneer Workboat ‘Kessock 2’

Owner: Caley Marina

MMSI: 232004611

Call Sign: MAGH9

Vessel Phone: 07740680509 07500068558 (Alternative contact)

The vessel will be working throughout daylight hours only. The works are due to take place between the 4th and 12th September, weather permitted.

Seabed CPTs and Downhole CPT's. 

The works, managed by Prysmian, will be carried out by Sub-contractor HDI from mid-August to mid-Spetember, using the following vessels:

- CAT ‘’Validus’’, UXO and Geophysical Survey Vessel.

- Landing Craft ‘’Fortis’’ Geo Electric Survey vessel.

- Landing Craft ‘’Virtus’’ Geo Electric Support vessel.

The survey works at Seaham and Torness are expected to last for 10 days at each site dependent upon the weather. Vessels and their contact details are given in Table 2 below.

Vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and fishing vessels are advised to remain a safe distance, approximately 1000m from the areas identified. Survey works will be ongoing and during the works the vessel will have restricted manoeuvrability as it completes its work scope, which includes towing equipment behind the vessel.

The Communication between the vessels will be through CH67 & 72.

VHF CH 16 will be monitored at all times and will be used to contact the coastguard in the event of an emergency.

Acquisition will include:

• Non-intrusive and intrusive survey activity in open water
•  ~34 days offshore activity (Q3 2024)
• Collection of Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) data – Hull mounted sensor
•  Collection of Sub Bottom Profile (SBP) data – Hull mounted sensor
• Collection of Side Scan Sonar (SSS) data – Towed sensor
• Collection of 2DUHR (seismic) data – Towed Sensor • Collection of TVG (Magnetometer) data – Towed Sensor
• Collection of Geotechnical data • Collection of Environmental grab sampling

The vessel, Glomar Supporter, will operate on a 24-hour basis and display the appropriate shapes (mast head signals visually indicating the status of the vessel to other vessels on navigable waters during daylight hours) and lights at all times during operations.

East Anglia THREE will be a large offshore wind farm, located 69 km off the Norfolk coast. With a projected capacity of approximately 1400MW, the wind farm shall supply electricity to approximately one million UK homes. Onshore construction for the project started in July 2022. 

By use of multiple specialized offshore vessels,1 Offshore Convertor station (OFCS) & 95 offshore wind turbine generators (WTGs) will be installed within the East Anglia Three site boundary along with the associated inter array and export cables. The generated power will be transmitted via an installed External Cable (EC) from the OFCS to a shore side substation located in Bramford. 

The works will be performed in a single campaign, commencing on the 9th of September 2024 and continuing until approximately 30th of September 2024. The works will be continuous, 24 hours a day. Charts of the DBC Array area is provided below.

The operations include the inspection of potential subsea Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) objects and boulder relocation by means of a work class ROV (WROV).

During operations, the Kamara will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500 metres separation distance from the Offshore Supply Vessel and pass at reduced speed.

Positions of equipment can be seen in Figure and Table 1 of attached. 

The operations will include visual inspections and maintenance at installed WTG foundation locations. During operations, the Edda Boreas will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message. It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500m separation distance from the Offshore Supply Vessel and pass at reduced speed. Fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention should not be deployed when approaching the working area.

The HM Denham will be carrying out diving operations to conduct Potential un-exploded ordinance identification of 20 targets, followed by disposal or relocation activities as required. Whilst conducting operations HM Denham will be moored using a 3-point mooring arrangement and an alpha flag will be displayed whilst diving operations are underway. All vessels are required to maintain a minimum of 500 meters safety distance from ‘HM Denham’ making minimal wash and navigating with caution. The vessels 'Hughes Hunter' & 'Balvenie' are supoorting the HM Denham and will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 throughout. any Confirmed UXO or disposals will be communicated via future Notice to mariners.

HydroWing – ADCP deployment Plan – English

As a berth holder at the Morlais Demonstration Zone (MDZ), a site operated by Menter Môn, HydroWing in partnership with DynamOcean wish to undertake resource/velocity data collection. 

Data collection will utilise one Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP will be placed on the seabed in locations highlighted below and will be left for ~12 weeks.

ADCP Deployment/recovery operations will require ~0.5-1 days each on site.

Anticipated Timeline

The below shows the proposed timeline for the data collection operations. Due to weather uncertainties at this time of year, HydroWing have highlighted 1 month windows for deployment and recovery to enable flexibility and ability to be reactive to suitable weather/tide windows.

Expected dates are as follows:

Deployment: 29th August or 12th September

Equipment left subsea: Up to 90 days post deployment

Recovery date: 21st or 28th November

 Locational Specifics

Berth BL3 shown in the Map below shows the area in which vessel activities associated with the project will take place along with the proposed locations for equipment deployment

ADCP will be deployed at the following co-ordinates:

NOTICE TO MARINERS

Issue Date: 1 September 2024

National Grid Ventures

NSL North Sea Link Geophysical & Environmental Survey

This notice provides an update on the upcoming Geophysical Survey in the North Sea.

The survey will be conducted on behalf of the National Grid Ventures using survey vessel EGS VENTUS. This vessel is appropriately licensed and has the requisite certifications by RINA. The work will include a geophysical survey along the cable corridor, with the start point located 4 nautical miles from shore and the end point at the UK EEZ boundary, as detailed in the table below.

Table 1. Start and end points for the survey corridor.

• The geophysical survey scope will include MBES, SSS survey of the route, Video inspection within MCZ, plus MBES along the centreline.
• Work is expected to commence on 22/09/2024 and conclude by 10/10/2024.
• Vessel EGS VENTUS will be on site on circa 22/09/2024 for mobilisation and commence survey works immediately after.
• A 500-metre corridor free of static gear is requested.

NB: Vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and fishing vessels are advised to remain a safe distance from the areas identified. The survey vessels will always be reachable via VHF Channel 16.

Contact Details:

Further enquiries should be addressed to the following contacts:

Marine and Fisheries Liaison

Aaron Mair

Tel: +44 (0) 7468 457 030

Email: a.mair@seagard.org 

Project Management

David Williams

Email: David.Williams1@nationalgrid.com  

Matthew Truell

Email: matthew.truell@redpenguinmarine.com

An additional met-ocean buoy will be installed at KP180 along the export cable route.

The table below provides a summary of each Cardinal and Special Mark Buoy deployed at the SOWF array, including target coordinates in WGS84 Degrees Decimal Minutes and a description of top mark and lantern characteristics. The Demarcation Buoys will be deployed for a period of approximately three years.  

The table below provides a summary of the Met-ocean Buoys deployed at the SOWF Array.

The post-lay burial (PLB) vessel “Normand Pacific” will be present for the entire scope of works. The Normand Pacific will transit from Middlesborough Support Depot and remain on site for 24hr operations. The PLB vessel will make passage to and from the support depot as required based on operational constraints.

The PLB will be supported by those guard vessels outlined in the table below.  Guard vessels will remain be onsite 24 hours per day to monitor the export cable until approximately the end of Q4 - 2024.

Exclusion zone coordinates for the post-lay burial works are identified within the table below.

The following table highlights zonal areas where guard vessels are patrolling and guarding the campaign 1 export cable. 

Please be aware that by virtue of mode of operation and the equipment deployed, the Normand Pacific will at times be Restricted in their Ability to Manoeuvre as defined under COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 and shall be exhibiting the correct day shapes / lights for vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre.

Mariners are requested to remain where possible 500m from vessels and equipment. Fishing vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and remain outside of the exclusion area identified. All vessels can be contacted on VHF 16 for further information as required reference proximity/nearby operations etc.

Mariners are advised of the following vessels operating at the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm (SOWF).

An MBES survey of the HDD trenches out to KP 3 was recently performed. The survey indicates the spoil heaps from 2023 back hoe excavation works have largely naturally dispersed. One spoil heap remains with a maximum height above the seabed of < 0.2 m.

Fisheries clerance will remain in place and vessels are requested to leave a wide berth as identified for the nearshore exclusion boundary (HDD pits out to KP3) until further notice. 

The 2 Export Cables & 1 Fibre Optic Cable (all bundled) have been installed into the HDD ducts at Landfall (Marske by The Sea) with the exclusion zone coordinates for campaign 1 installation works detailed within the table above and relevant Notice to Mariners.  Fishing vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and remain outside of the exclusion area identified.

The following table highlights zonal areas where guard vessels are patrolling and guarding the campaign 1 export cable. 

Mariners are advised of the following vessels commencing operations at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm (SOWF).

The table below also provides the position and description of any equipment/asset/item that will remain in place following demobilisation of the Ievoli Ivory.

The scope of work includes a seabed (MBES) and 3D UHRS straight survey lines across wider corridors within the Dogger Bank South West area.  Extended line turn areas have been applied to the DBS West Array geophyscial survey area with coordinates provided in the below tables.

Throughout the survey, the vessel will deploy surface and subsurface survey equipment, during which times the survey vessel will have limited manoeuvrability.

The vessel tow is approximately 200 m in length behind the vessel and has a width of 42 metres and vessel turning requires long wide turns, radius of 1500 m. Approaching vessels are therefore requested to pass at a safe speed and distance and pass at a minimum distance of 1nm.

For the MBES survey the vessel require a minimum passing clearance of at least 0.5 nM.

Operations will be conducted on a 24h basis and the guard/scout vessel ‘Karrelle’ will be aiding the survey operations.  A continuous listening watch will be conducted on VHF Channel 16 and 06 by all vessels operational on site.

The tables below provides coordinates of the maximum working areas during geophysical survey operations.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

Mariners are advised that Partrac, on behalf of The Crown Estate, is planning scheduled servicing of the array of Metocean equipment deployed within three Project Development Areas (PDAs) located off the coast of Wales and Southwest England (Table 1, Figure 1 to Figure 3). The equipment (including three floating LiDAR buoys) was deployed between 09th and 10th May 2024. The equipment will remain deployed for a period of at least 9-months after the servicing is complete.

Partrac Plans to conduct service works on the following moorings:

• Site 1A: Subsurface, Wavebouy
• Site 3A Subsurface, Wavebouy, Floating LiDAR
• Site 4A Subsurface, Wavebouy

Work is expected to be completed from 4th September over a period of approximately 5 days, weather permitting using the Green Isle.

Hywind Scotland windfarm will be undertaking a major component exchange on all 5 x Turbines commencing 11th April 2024. This work will involve the complete disconnection of the mooring lines and electrical cabling which will be lowered and temporarily secured to the seabed, prior to towing each turbine back to Wergeland in Gulen, Norway. The project is due to last around 4 months in total; however there should be some expectation of weather delays therefore some contingency should be applied to the planned dates. The Service Operation Vessel (SOV), Island Diligence will remain in the windfarm for the duration of the project to carry out all preparatory works. This vessel will also act as the supporting guard vessel as operations are likely to take place 24/7 during the project period. The SOV will be supported by 3 x Anchor Handling Vessels (AHV), Normand Sapphire, Normand Sigma and Skandi Vega. These vessels will be towing the turbines to Norway and then back from Norway after repair. The Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) MCS Swath and Goath Na Mara are contracted for normal service operations will support in the field with crew transfers and additional transport requirements 24/7. As the windfarm area will be extremely busy with vessel movements and operations it is recommended that this area is restricted for entry for any vessels that are not involved in the project. Subsea structures will remain in place once a turbine has been removed, therefore the below locations should be avoided at all times

Reach Subsea will be mobilise the Go Electra survey vessel from Great Yarmouth and transit to the survey area within the Dudgeon windfarm and export cable. The survey works are expected to commence 12th September and last for 3 days (weather depending). The survey vessel will deploy a Support ROV which will not be visible from the surface. The vessel will be operated in accordance with the COLREGs; however, so far as is reasonably practicable, mariners should give the vessel a wide berth.

Please refer to the previous NtM issued on the 27th of June for details of the main array survey, which is underway and details remain unchanged. This notice covers surveys over an additional area of seabed to the west of the site. BBWFL will not be requesting fishing gear relocation. No towed gear will be used and the vessels will work around fishing activities. A guard vessel with an offshore fisheries liaison officer (OFLO) will be present to work alongside the survey vessel. 

Survey Duration  

The survey is anticipated to take place over seven days or less between 26th August and the end of September, either by the Ocean Researcher vessel during weather downtime of the array 3D survey and/or in mid-to-late September by an Xocean USV. As noted in the earlier NtM (first issue), all survey work (array and additional area) are to be completed by 30th September 2024.  

Survey Tasks  

Please note that towed equipment will be used for the ongoing survey as stated in the previous NtM (first issue), but not for the additional new survey area. The surveys involve deployment of: 

• Multi Beam Echosounder; 

• Ultra-High Resolution Seismic (UHRS); 

• Sub-bottom profiler; 

• Ultra Short Baseline. 

As a consequence of equipment being deployed and the modes of operation, all mariners are advised to keep a safe clearance distance of no less than 500 m from the vessel(s). In addition to the Offshore Fisheries Liaison Officer on board the guard vessel there will be Onshore Fisheries Liaison Officer services.  

Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm Ltd is required to complete Geotechnical site investigations to inform the design of the proposed offshore wind turbine foundations for the future Five Estuaries offshore windfarm.

The Kommandor Susan survey vessel shall be conducting geotechnical survey operations on a 24-hour basis. The work will consist of Geotechnical Survey ops within the boundaries of the offshore wind farm site.

We kindly ask that all vessels in the local vicinity observe a 500m safety zone. It is requested that anyone having knowledge of any potential objects submerged or moored on the seabed within the survey area that could be damaged or form a hazard to the survey vessel and its equipment advises the Fisheries Liaison Officer of their position and nature. Extent of the boundary and coordinates are detailed within the NtM attached. 

During the survey, the vessels will display the prescribed lights and signals for survey operations and will be monitoring VHF Channels 16.

Caledonia OWF's Primary Buoy. COWF-SWLB080 has broken free from its moorings and drifted from its position in a Northeast direction on the evening of 25/08/24. The buoy was recovered at 06.20am on 26/08/24 by vessel Mar Fortune (IMO 9267273). COWF-SWLB080 mooring system (3.25 T clump weight) remains in position (see coordinates).

Mooring weight & line present a snagging hazard and that a possiblity of propeller fouling is possible due to the mooring line floating in the water column. The full mooring Iine is 110m. the length of mooring line remaining in the water column is not yet known, this notice will be updated once determined. Mariners are advised to maintain a safe distance, 500m recommended.

The survey involves the drilling, sampling and coring of boreholes throughout the Array Area. The vessel will be stationary at each borehole location for up to 3 days to allow the samples and cores to be taken from the seabed. 24 hour and 7 day lookaheads containing details of the positions of Fugro Synergy will be provided.

An Offshore Fisheries Liaison Officer (OFLO) will not be present on board the vessel during the survey but the project Fishing Industry Representative (FIR) and/or Company FLO (CLFO) can be contacted with any specific queries.

Acquisition will include:

• Non-intrusive and intrusive survey activity in open water
• ~5 days offshore activity (Q3 2024)
• Collection of Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) data – Pole mounted sensor
• Collection of Sub Bottom Profile (SBP) data – Pole mounted sensor
• Collection of Side Scan Sonar (SSS) data – Towed sensor
• Collection of Magnetometer data – Towed Sensor
• Collection of Environmental grab sampling
• Collection of Environmental video transects

The vessel, Mersey Guardian, will operate on a 12-hour basis and display the appropriate shapes (mast head signals visually indicating the status of the vessel to other vessels on navigable waters during daylight hours) and lights at all times during operations.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

Marine users are requested to maintain the safe clearance distances as outlined in Section 3. Due to the size of the vessel there will be no FLO onboard and so any at sea, operational issues should be directed towards the Fishing Industry Representative (FIR) and the Company Fisheries Liaison Officer (CFLO) – see details below. The FIR will provide look ahead notices and charts to commercial fisheries during the survey. Please contact the team if you would like to receive these notices.

During the geophysical survey the vessel will be towing equipment astern, not visible on the surface. During the sampling the survey vessel will be holding position over a location for periods of up to 1hr in order to take seabed samples. All vessels are requested to maintain a safe distance (500m) from the vessel at all times.

A-2-Sea Solutions Ltd (on behalf of SHEPD) will be undertaking a marine survey within the cable corridors described below. Surveys will utilise two vessels to complete survey operations: Mintaka 1 and FPV Morven. The operations will commence during an appropriate weather window following 3/07/24. Offshore operations will have a planned minimum duration of 50.5 days, weather permitting. Nearshore operations will have a planned minimum duration of 27 days, weather permitting.  

The survey will involve collection of high-resolution geophysical seabed data and In-situ geotechnical sediment testing.

Other vessels are requested to maintain an appropriate and safe distance of 500 m when passing the Mintaka 1 and FPV Morven vessel(s) whilst undertaking operations and should pass at the lowest possible speed to avoid vessel wash effects. The vessel(s) will be working 24-hour operations and will display appropriate day shapes and lights during reduced visibility and night operations. The vessel(s) will also monitor VHF Channels 16 and 12.

The exposures are present intermittently across all four cable routes as shown below/on the map.

Application for licence to remediate exposures has been submitted. Fishermen are requested to stay well clear.

The work will be performed between approximately the 28th of August 2024 and continue until approximately the 20th of September 2024. The work will be continuous, 24 hours a day. Coordinates and chart of the route are provided below.

Following cable pull-in at the HDD and cable lay of Section 1, the cable bundle within the Section 1 Nearshore area, where the water depth is <10m LAT, will be trenched from the HDD exit to approximately KP4.5. The vessel Waddenstroom will undertake trenching, vessel speeds are expected to be in range 150 m/hr to 250 m/hr.

During operations Waddenstroom will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

In the period between cable lay operation until the cable has been permanently protected by means of burial or rock placement, the cable may be locally exposed on the seafloor and the construction working corridor will remain closed for any static fishing, anchoring or use of other equipment with seabed intervention. During this time the cable is sensitive to any external impact and constitutes a snagging risk for anchoring, fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention.

To protect the cable in the 900m working corridor, guard vessels will be deployed along the route (described in a separate NtM LF700013-ESI-DOG-NOT-0008). The primary purpose of the guard vessels is to protect the exposed cable along the Dogger Bank C Export Cable corridor by monitoring and issuing warnings to marine traffic operating within 6Nm of the construction area with a Closest Point of Approach (CPA) < 1.5Nm.

Mariners are advised of potential floating debris in the vicinity of the Dogger Bank A offshore wind farm array area. Any sightings of floating debris should be reported to the Duty Marine Coordinator.

Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind (a joint venture between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation and Gulf Energy) are conducting a 2 month offshore geotechnical survey between 1st July and 10th September 2024 using the vessel Geoquip Saentis call sign: 5BBX6. The survey vessel shall be conducting geotechnical boreholes at various locations within the proposed offshore wind farm area and two other locations (refer to tables below and Figures 1, 2 & 4). The vessel will typically spend one to two days static at each sample locations within so please allow a safe distance.

Company:                                 Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind

Contractor:                                Geoquip Marine Operations AG

Survey Vessel:                          Geoquip Saentis

Survey Vessel call sign:             5BBX6

Earliest Start date:                     1st July 2024

Latest Finish date:                     10th September 2024

The USVs will be mobilised from Scarborough or Hartlepool Harbour where each USV will be escorted out of the harbour limits,  before transiting to the survey area. Survey Operations will be continuous 24hrs a day. Although vessels are uncrewed, they are managed remotely continuously using 360 degree cameras and other sensors.

The works will commence on the 13th of August 2024, continuing until 31st December 2024 when all locations have been surveyed. The works will be continuous, 24 hours a day. A chart of the DBD Array Area and Export Cable Route corridor including bounding coordinates is provided below. 

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500m separation distance from the USVs and pass at reduced speed.

Mariners are advised that a nearshore and offshore marine benthic and geotechnical survey (sampling campaign) is planned for the Sea Link project along the planned Sea Link cable route corridor between the Suffolk approaches, and the Outer Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate, Kent 

The marine survey activities are planned to commence 20th August and extend throughout to 10th September, depending on weather conditions.

About Sea Link – National Grid Electricity Transmission is proposing to reinforce the transmission network between Suffolk and Kent via a new, primarily offshore, cable link. More information about the Sea Link project can be found on their website: https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/sealink/about-sea-link

The Sea Link nearshore and offshore benthic and geotechnical survey works are being carried out by Next GeoSolutions onboard the Ievoli Grey.

The specific areas of work and sample locations, pertaining to this Notice to Mariners (NtM) , are shown in more detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the attached document.

The benthic sampling will be acquired first, utilising grab sampling and a drop-down video (DDV) camera, followed by geotechnical sampling utilising a Cone Penetrometer system (CPT) and a Vibrocore (VC) system.

The sampling vessel’s contact details for the project are provided in the attached document.

All vessels shall pass at a safe speed and distance, whilst fishing vessels are asked to remain at a safe distance (approximately 500 metres where possible) (COLREGs Rule 16 & 18) from the areas identified during marine sampling operations. The survey vessel will monitor VHF Channel 16 at all times.

Please be advised that Briggs Marine Contractors (on behalf of SHEPD) will be installing a new cable between Islay and Jura.

Pre-Lay Grapnel Run (PLGR) for route clearance of debris was carried out across the cable installation route between 17th – 24th July. Cable installation was completed between 29th July and 1st August. The Cable Lay Vessel was assisted at the shore ends by Celtic Guardian, Celtic Mara, Celtic Nomad and Celtic Trader, regularly passing inside the working corridor for crew transfers and supporting nearshore cable landing operations.

Split pipe installation will take place between 6th August – 12th September (weather permitting)

Rock bag installation will take place between 28th August – 2nd September (weather permitting).

Work Description

During operations the Challenger of Leith, Hydro Patriot and Spanish John will be restricted in ability to manoeuvre. Whilst operations will seek to minimise disruption on the width of the main navigation channel, some disruption may be unavoidable during operations within the working corridor.

Operations may be conducted on a 24-hour basis and are weather/tide dependent.

Should any vessel wish to come within 500m of the vessels, then direct communication with the Master/Operator is required. The vessels will display the appropriate lights/day shapes for their operations.

UXO Identification works will continue using the vessel 'Glomar Wave' within the East Anglia 3 (EA3) OWF & ECR into August/September.  UXO Demolition works will commence from 04 July using the vessel 'Glomar Wave' within the East Anglia 3 (EA3) OWF & ECR into September.

All underwater activities associated with the Glomar Wave will be carried out using WROV. 

UXO Identification works will also commence in the nearshore areas of the EA3 ECR on 04 July using the Vessel HM Denham, supported by small crafts Hughes Hunter and Balvenie. 

UXO Demolition works will commence from 1st Aug within the nearshore areas of the EA3 ECR using the Vessel HM Denham, supported by small crafts Hughes Hunter and Balvenie. Glomar Wave will also support. 

All underwater activities associated with the HM Denham will be carried out using divers. 

All UXO ID and Demolition activities are expected to be complete by 30 September 2024

All instrumentation is deployed at a single deployment location within the project site. The purpose of the instrumentation is to gather Metocean and wind data to inform the proposed Muir Mhor Offshore Wind Farm Project.

All instrumentation was deployed by Green Rebel from the Port of Aberdeen to the site in February 2023 via the vessel BB Ocean (IMO 9196503, MMSI 258825000). 

The FLS mooring comprises of a surface visible buoy moored to the seabed via a two-point mooring system constructed using a combination of rope and chain.  Two guard buoys are located at approximately 30m from the main FLS buoy in a North/South orientation, with the mooring spread covering an approximate 315m radius. There is also a seabed frame for current measurements contained within the overall deployment footprint, approximately 30m East of the main FLS buoy. Note: there are 2x orange polyform marker buoys located above the northern anchor position (detailed below) which will be removed during the first planned maintenance visit.

The FLS light characteristics are Fl (5) Y 20s with 5nm range. The guard buoys’ light characteristics are FI Y 5s with 3nm range and include a yellow St. Andrew’s Cross topmark. The FLS is designated as “Muir Mhor Floating Lidar” on AIS, with MMSI number 992351400.

Details of the surface visible buoy, guard buoys, seabed frame and mooring arrangement are provided in the attachments.

MARINE USERS are requested to maintain a safe clearance distance of 500m from all assets.

Please be advised that Briggs Marine Contractors (on behalf of SHEPD) will be installing a new cable between Mainland Shetland (Melby) and Papa Stour. Please refer to Figure 1, that shows the location of the planned works, please also refer to Table 1 overleaf that lists the coordinates for the area.  

Ahead of any installation operations, shore end equipment will be delivered to Papa Stour landfall by Landing Craft between 29th July – 24th August (weather permitting).

The following operations will take place between the 22nd August – 20th September (weather permitting):

Cable installation including shore end support via the Celtic Guardian, Celtic Mara, Celtic Nomad and Celtic Trader (regularly passing inside the working corridor for crew transfers and supporting nearshore cable landing operations); Rock Bag installation; Split pipe installation.

Work Description

A Landing Craft will be utilised to deliver shore end installation plant, equipment and materials to Papa Stour landfall. Toplander will be loaded from the slipway at the Ferry Terminal on Papa Stour and will undertake multiple loads back and forth between Papa Stour.

During operations the vessels Seacor Nile, Forth Warrior and Hydro Patriot will be restricted in ability to manoeuvre. Whilst operations will seek to minimise disruption on the width of the main navigation channel, some disruption may be unavoidable during operations within the working corridor.  

Operations will be conducted over 24 hours and are weather/tide dependent.

Should any vessel wish to come within 500m of the vessels, then direct communication with the Master / Operator is required. The vessels will display the appropriate lights/day shapes for their operations.

Campaign 2 / Section 1 will comprise cable installation within the nearshore section from landfall at KP0 to KP13 and offshore between KP13 and KP91.5. Campaign 2 will start with installation of concrete mattresses at the Breagh pipeline crossing. The mattresses will be installed by NKT Victoria immediately prior to cable installation. The cable lay vessel, NKT Victoria will then reverse surface lay the export cable in a landward direction from the in-line joint at KP91.5 to the omega joint at KP13 within the offshore section. For the nearshore section, NKT Victoria will be positioned approximately 800 m from the exit point of the previously installed HDD duct, through which cable pull in will be undertaken supported by a nearshore vessel, Waddenstroom. NKT Victoria will then undertake forward surface lay of the export cable in a seaward direction from landfall at KP0 to KP13. Temporary surface lay is intended along the egress corridor at the start of the nearshore section 1.

Campaign 1 / Section 2 between KP91 and KP175, including the Langeled and SEAL pipeline crossings and DBB power cable crossing, has been completed. Campaign 3 / Section 3 will separately comprise cable installation between KP175 and the Dogger Bank C Offshore Wind Farm array area; Campaign 3 will take place in September through October 2024 and will be covered in a future update to this NtM.

During operations the NKT Victoria will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 1.5Nm separation distance from the Cable laying vessel and pass at reduced speed. Fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention should not be deployed when approaching the working corridor.

An Offshore Fisheries Liaison Officer will be onboard NKT Victoria to provide support and coordination to fishing vessels, please see contact details below.

The works will be performed in a single campaign, commencing 20th of August 2024 and continuing until the survey is complete (on or before 30th September 2024). The works will be continuous, 24 hours a day. Charts of the survey area are provided below.

During operations, the MV Fugro Helmert will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 500m separation distance from the MV Fugro Helmert  and pass at reduced speed.

Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind (a joint venture between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation and Gulf Energy) are conducting a 2 week offshore geotechnical survey between 09th and 22nd September 2024 using the vessel Connector call sign: OYOJ2. The survey vessel shall be conducting deep-push piezocone penetrometer tests at various locations within the proposed offshore wind farm area. The vessel will typically spend one to two hours static at each test location within the area so please allow a safe distance. Company: Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Contractor: Geo Survey Vessel: Connector Survey Vessel call sign: OYOJ2 Earliest Start date: 09th September 2024 Latest Finish date: 22nd September 2024

Scope of work includes the installation of armour rock onto the array cables at the Wind Turbine Generator foundations and Offshore Substation foundations. Also, rock will be installation at the 3rd party asset crossing locations and some cable route sections.

The rock installation will be by inclined fall pipe method.

The work will be performed by the Heimdal R

It is requested that mariners avoid activities which are likely to disturb the seabed within a 500m Radius of this location until the exposed export cable has been re-investigated. A further Notice to Mariners will be issued to confirm the course of action we will be taking to rectify this. Please note that the standard safety rules apply when fishing in or near wind farms and associated cables. All mariners are requested to make themselves aware of their obligations for conducting activities over buried and protected cables under International and UK Cable (Sub-sea) Protection Legislation. 

Mariners are reminded to navigate with caution and keep continued watch on VHF Ch. 12 / 16 when navigating the area. The Marine Coordination Centre will be responsible for monitoring and policing the Safety Zone and can be contacted directly for advice. Further information on the risks to fishing adjacent to subsea cables can be found in Weblinks: www.kis-orca.eu https://www.seafish.org/article/kingfisher-bulletin 

Please be advised that Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Ltd (on behalf of SHEPD) will be undertaking subsea inspections of several cables across the West Highlands and Argyll marine areas.

Given the different conditions and water depths anticipated at each site, a range of vessels will be available for the project. The inspection works will be centred on a 50m cable corridor.

LOCATION DETAILS

Cable location and indicative survey corridors are noted in the attached NtM for information. Equipment calibration operations may take place out with the defined corridor and these areas will be chosen so as not to interfere with fishing / marine traffic activity.

VESSEL DETAILS

The vessels conducting these works will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and will display the appropriate lights and shapes. Other vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and provide a minimum clearance of 500m (COLREGs Rule 16 & 18) during marine operations. All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 throughout survey operations. Mobile contacts for the vessels are listed at the end of this NtM.

Please be advised that Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Ltd (on behalf of SHEPD) will be undertaking a subsea inspection of a cable in the West Highlands.

A range of vessels will be available for the project.The inspection works will be centred on a 50m cable corridor.

LOCATION DETAILS

The cable location and indicative survey corridor is noted below for information. Equipment calibration operations may take place out with the defined corridor and these areas will be chosen so as not to interfere with fishing / marine traffic activity.

VESSEL DETAILS

The vessels conducting these works will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and will display the appropriate lights and shapes. Other vessels are requested to pass at a safe speed and provide a minimum clearance of 500m (COLREGs Rule 16 & 18) during marine operations. All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 throughout survey operations. Mobile contacts for the vessels are listed at the end of the attached NtM.

The Haven Seachallenger (jack-up barge (JUB)), the Siskin (tow vessel for the Haven Seachallenger) and the C-Odyssey (a multi cat support vessel) are expected to mobilise on 13th May 2024 from Tillbury, Essex. The works will last until approximately September 2024, not including weather contingency. The contents of this notice are based upon our current understanding of Hornsea Three’s requirements. Any amendents to the information contained within this notice will be communicated accordingly.

The table below details the coordinates for the intended working area of the Ievoli Cobalt and mariners are requested to remain outside these coordinates.

The table below details the coordinates of project infrastructure to remain on the seabed following the Ievoli Cobalt’s completion of works. The mattresses are not expected to reduce navigable depth by over 5%.

The "Enterprise II” continues with infield and Export Cable Corridor guard vessel duties.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

The floating LiDAR buoys deployed at sites 1 and 3 record meteorological data and are anchored to the seabed by means of a mooring chain and a ground weight. The buoy has dimensions of 4m x 4m, and when deployed the tallest mast on the buoy sits approx. 4m above the water line. The lantern has a flash sequence Fl (5) Y 20s. Please maintain a 500m exclusion around each buoy.

To provide the required coverage, approximately 16 guard vessels will be used in the period from the 19th of March 2024 until the 30th of November 2024. Durations at each location will depend on progress of the cable installation, trenching and rock placement operations. Not all the vessels are expected to be used concurrently.

The primary purpose of the guard vessels is to protect the exposed cable along the Dogger Bank C Export Cable corridor by monitoring and issuing warnings to marine traffic operating within 6Nm of the construction area with a Closest Point of Approach (CPA) < 1.5Nm. More specifically, the focus will be on those vessels with potential to be engaging in bottom contact activities such as fishing and anchoring, as these activities pose a risk not only to the exposed cable bundle but also to the vessels themselves.

The guard vessels will be clearly marked and display a highly visible "GUARD" sign on each side. The vessels will operate 24hrs, in all but extreme weather. Exchange of vessels on site will ensure the relevant section of cable is never left unguarded.

In sections where cable protection has been completed, guard vessels will be released, and sections will be opened up for fishing or use of other of equipment with seabed intervention. This may not necessarily be in a sequential order from shoreside outwards.

Prior to TP installation, the installed MPs are marked with temporary lighting. The temporary lighting has been removed from 3 of the MPs in preparation for TP installation, the 3 MPs are currently unmarked and are unlit. Table 2 below provides coordinates of the MP locations where temporary navaids have been removed.

The DBB Guard vessels will broadcast a safety message alerting vessels of this hazard. All vessels are requested to navigate with particular caution in the vicinity of the Dogger Bank B construction site and where possible are requested to remain outside the construction site boundary.

Spiorad na Mara Ltd deployed an array of metocean equipment, including one floating LiDAR (FLIDAR) buoy, over a period of 24 months, and two Datawell Waverider buoys and one Seabed mooring for 12 months within the Spiorad na Mara offshore wind farm site. An additional seabed mooring has been deployed on site. 

Partrac Ltd. is scheduled to inspect a metocean equipment seabed mooring within the Spiorad na Mara offshore wind farm site using the vessel Mar Fortune on 22nd July 2024. The Mar Fortune will also attempt to recover the original seabed mooring from the site and vessels are asked to keep a safe distance.

Equipment positions will be updated in a further notice after the operations have been completed. All vessels are requested to always maintain a safe distance (500 m) around the buoys.

Planned deployment within the Salamander Offshore Array Area consists of:

• 2x Fugro Sea-watch LiDAR Buoys (SWLB079 and SWLB086)
• 1x Fugro Wavescan Metocean Buoy (WS164) with a Nortek Signature 250 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) on the keel weight
• 1x echosounder

Illustrative figures showing the buoy dimensions and general mooring arrangement are provided in the attached NtM.

Once in the water the top of the tallest mast is around 4 meters above the sea level. The buoys' drifting radius is approximately 240 m from their deployment positions. 

The buoys are fitted with the following navigational safety features:

• Buoys painted yellow in colour;
• Yellow St Andrews Cross;
• Passive radar reflector (Mobri S-4);
• AIS AtoN (with MMSI numbers: 992351428, 992351430, 992351429); and
• Marine lantern (with flash character Fl (5) Y 20s - 5 yellow flashes every 20 seconds) with a range of 4 nautical miles.

This routine Notice to Mariners will give regular updates on our activities and provide safety information which is relevant to fellow sea farers in the region of Hywind Scotland. This notice to mariners does not include updates such as new Crew Transfer Vessels working on the site, only licensable activities, survey vessels, jack up vessels, diving vessels etc.

Subsea Cables Hywind Scotland wind farm has connection to the onshore transmission network via export cables to shore. A snagging and entanglement risk may be present due to seabed movement and scour. Equinor kindly request that any suspected entanglement with an offshore cable is reported as soon as is safely possible to Equinor Wind Control Centre on VHF Channel 16, Tetra radio or +44(0) 1493 841710 (emergency) or +44(0) 1493 841711.

Other Works/Alerts Hywind Scotland windfarm will be undertaking a major component exchange on all 5 x Turbines commencing 11th April 2024. This work will involve the complete disconnection of the mooring lines and electrical cabling which will be lowered and temporarily secured to the seabed, prior to towing each turbine back to Wergeland in Gulen, Norway. The project is due to last until October 2024; however, there should be some expectation of weather delays therefore some contingency should be applied to the planned dates.

The Service Operation Vessel (SOV), Island Diligence will remain in the windfarm for the duration of the project to carry out all preparatory works. This vessel will also act as the supporting guard vessel as operations are likely to take place 24/7 during the project period. The SOV will be supported by 3 x Anchor Handling Vessels (AHV), Normand Ferking, Normand Sigma and Skandi Vega. These vessels will be towing the turbines to Norway and then back from Norway after repair.

The Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) MCS Swath and Goath Na Mara are contracted for normal service operations will support in the field with crew transfers and additional transport requirements 24/7.

As the windfarm area will be extremely busy with vessel movements and operations it is recommended that this area is restricted for entry for any vessels that are not involved in the project.

Subsea structures will remain in place once a turbine has been removed, therefore the below locations should be avoided at all times.

Weather Buoy Hywind (Scotland) Ltd. will deploy one anchored weather buoy within the Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Windfarm Site from a planned installation date of 13th July 2024.

Duration The deployment campaign will cover six months (until 31st December 2024) and the weather buoy will be removed at the end of the project. If the deployment date is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. extreme weather), an update will be issued. An update will also follow if the weather buoy is removed prior to the end of the campaign.

Installation The installation will occur during a single campaign. The weather buoy will either be installed by an AHV or SOV and contain an Alize metocean buoy with a clump weight of approximately 1000kg which will be laid at the seabed. This will ensure correct tensioning and positioning. It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum 1.0Nm separation distance from the buoy installation vessel and pass at reduced speed.

Specification The specifications of the Alize metocean buoy can be seen in Appendix 1. The buoy be lit with a yellow light, displaying a flash character of Fl (5) Y 20s (five yellow flashes every 20 seconds) with a nominal range of 3nM. No AIS will be used on the buoy. No additional marking is required for the deployment of this weather buoy.

The survey will focus upon the north western quarter of the site with possible survey in the southern half of the site pending weather and survey progress.  

Please note that Berwick Bank Wind Farm Limited and Berwick Bank C Limited are engaging with static gear fishers operating within the north western quarter of the site to arrange relocation of gear. A guard vessel with an offshore fisheries liaison officer (OFLO) will be present to work alongside the survey vessel. 

The survey work is being undertaken by Gardline and will be conducted by the Ocean Researcher vessel. Pending weather conditions vessels are due to be on site from 11th July 2024. The scouting/guard vessel will be the GV Courage SH170 to start, with the Artemis and Morning Dawn taking over on following rotations, with the exact schedule to be confirmed through further notices as required. 

The survey is anticipated to take approximately 2 months. To account for all eventualities including weather delays, we would like to extend the duration of this notice validity to 30th September 2024.  

During operations, the SUDRI ENABLER will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message. It is requested that all vessels maintain a minimum of 1.5Nm separation distance from the vessels and pass at reduced speed. Fishing gear or other equipment with seabed intervention should not be deployed when approaching the working corridor.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

See detailed map on our bulletin website

See detailed map on our bulletin website

The Floating LiDAR buoy is tethered to the sea bed with a single mooring line. The Floating LiDAR buoy has light marking characteristics comprising FI (5) Y 20s with a nominal range of 5 nautical miles in addition to transmitting its locations via AIS.

The works will commence on the 05th of July 2023, continuing until approximately Q2 2024.  The works will be continuous, 24 hours a day.  A chart of the DBA construction area boundary coordinates and a table of WTG location coordinates is provided below. A running list of the completed WTG installations and the next locations to be installed is presented in the Weekly Notice of Operations.

During operations, the Voltaire will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessel will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message. 

During operations, a Statutory Safety zone of 500m radius will be in place around the Voltaire during the installation of WTGs.  The safety zone will be monitored by a guard vessel. The primary response will be to warn passing traffic of the ongoing works and any active safety zones, and to alert any vessels where an infringement may occur or has occurred. 

Mariners are advised that EGS International Ltd (EGS) will be undertaking, on behalf of Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), geophysical and geotechnical survey operations along the proposed route of a telecom cable crossing Scottish Waters in the North Sea and Northern Atlantic Ocean.

Marine operations will be running from around the 12th July 2024, with the completion of the work expected in late September 2024 (weather dependant).

The survey works will be carried out within a 500m corridor centred on the route shown in the map and detailed in the table below.

Operations will be carried out by the vessel EGS Ventus (IMO 7506237; Call Sign V7II9) and Geo Resolution (IMO 8835243; Call Sign V7IE2).

Please, be advised that during the survey operations the vessels will be either towing or have equipment deployed to the seabed restricting their ability to manoeuvre. Other vessels are requested to maintain an appropriate and safe distance of at least 500m.

During operations the vessels will display the appropriate day shapes/signals and lights as required by the IRPCS. A continuous listening watch will be maintained on VHF Channel 16 and DSC.

Any general enquiries regarding this notice should be direct to the EGS Project Manager, Walter Colautti (email: wcolautti@egssurvey.co.uk, office: +44 (0)1420 489329, mobile: +44 (0)7876 707454

Fisheries Liaison

For any commercial fishery queries please contact the Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) Isabel Griffiths (phone: +44 (0)2032 065505, email: Isabel.Griffiths@erm.com) or Becki Jarvis (phone: +44 (0)1179 106752, email: Becki.Jarvis@erm.com). 

The PAM stations will remain on the seabed until approximately the 31st of October 2027. The current PAM stations have 12 m height above the seabed, weighing 600 kg and their location is not marked by a surface buoy (OGN).There will be 3 types of monitoring station: 1) not marked with surface buoy (OGN); 2) two anchor points with 600 kg weight on each with max. 100 m seabed line between each mooring and a surface buoy on one of the anchor points (STL); and 3) a surface buoy deployment with two 600 kg anchor lines (TDS). Please see table below for which locations these mooring types will be laid. There is an exclusion zone of 250 m around the PAM Stations. All marine traffic is advised to abide by the 250 m safety zone around the PAM Stations all the time for their safety

*COWF-SWLB080 relocated 3rd of June 2024*

On the 3rd of June 2023, Fugro deployed two (2) Floating Seawatch LiDAR buoys within the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm site for the acquisition of Wind and Metocean Data. The two buoys are intended to remain in-situ for a minimum period of 24 months.

Mariners are advised to maintain a 500 m clearance from the deployed equipment.  Operations were completed by the Fishing vessel ‘MS Elisabeth’.

The buoys will remain in situ until June 2025, the exact removal date will depend on weather and be determined at a later stage. A separate NtM will be issued for the removal activity.

Details on the Seawatch Wind LiDAR (3.0) Buoys including navigational safety features and mooring layout design are provided in the attached NtM (V10).

All fishermen are strongly advised to avoid fishing in this area, giving a minimum clearance of 0.25 nautical miles from this abandoned fishing equipment, to avoid risk of further fouling and/or entanglement with the Hibernia/Exa cable and therefore possible endangerment to the vessel and its crew.

Please be advised that EOLOS has successfully relocated the Bellrock Floating LiDAR System buoy FLIDAR E25 on 24th February 2024. The new coordinates are shown in Table 1 in the attached.

The Bellrock FLIDAR E25 was initially deployed within the Bellorck Offshore Wind Farm site in April 2023, for acquisition of Wind and Metocean Data. A description of the device is presented in Section 2 in the attached.

The works completed on the 24th February 2024, with the Voe Earl vessel, consisted of recovering the Bellrock FLIDAR E25 device from its original location, and redeploying it at the new location (See Table 1 and Figure 1 in the attached).

The Bellrock FLS200 E25 will remain in the Bellrock Offshore Wind Farm site for an approximate period of 24 months (i.e. until April 2025).

Description of works:

• The vessel will be working through daylight hours only.

• Vessel-mounted and towed equipment may be in use for the purposes of geophysical survey of the seabed and subsurface.

• The survey vessel is likely to be steaming a pattern of regular parallel lines, and as such may make sudden unpredictable changes of course, including sudden changes of course onto reciprocal headings.

Mariners are advised to provide the survey vessel with ample clearance, ideally 1000m.

Mariners are advised to exercise caution and follow any additional instructions provided.

The vessel will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 16

The survey office may be contacted via telephone on 01857-595-595

The 17 construction boundary demarcation buoys will remain in location until the windfarm construction activities have been completed and handed over to the Operations and Maintenance teams.

Once the permanent Aids to Navigation (AtoN) have been installed on the WTGs, Trinity House will approve the permanent AtoN and the boundary buoys will be removed.

If anyone finds a buoy that is off station or encounters a buoy location where it is not functioning or is missing, they should report this to the Dogger Bank Duty Marine Coordinator as soon as possible.

As part of the survey activity three seabed frames shall be deployed within the Seagreen site boundary. The frames/moorings all have an acoustic release & recovery system. Mooring M4_WBAT has an associated groundline and thermistor chain, the attached polyester line contains mini CTD sensors. The surface mark shall display a yellow light, flashing 5 every 20s, range 4 nautical miles. The moorings shall be laid by the research vessel Scotia, which is expected on site on Thursday the 02nd of May to lay moorings. The mooring operation is expected to be completed within 24 hours. Mooring M3_WBAT shall be laid at a date later in May which will be confirmed in a revision to this notice.

See detailed map on our bulletin website

Marine Scotland Science (MSS) intend to install 87 acoustic fish tracking moorings in the Beatrice and Moray East Offshore Windfarms areas (BOWL (38 moorings) and Moray East (49 moorings)) as part of the PrePARED programme of works (figure 1 & 2). PrePARED is a collaborative research project coordinated by Marine Scotland Science which aims to concurrently study predator (seabird and marine mammal) and prey (fish) distribution and behaviour in and around offshore wind farms. The moorings hold research equipment that support hydrophone receivers. These receivers log the presence of fish, such as Cod, Haddock and Whiting which will be tagged with acoustic ID transmitter tag s (they will also record salmon and seatrout smolts migrating from Moray Firth Rivers tagged by the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) should they pass within range).

The proposed locations of the fish tracking moorings are shown (Figure 1); the positions of the moorings are given in WGS84 (Table 1). The moorings will be deployed from the 10th of April 2022 by a the Waterfall operated by Moray First Marine. The moorings will be removed by the 30th of August 2026.

Acoustic fish tracking moorings will not be surface marked and will be located on the seabed. The array moorings will extend vertically no more than 4 metres. The moorings will be serviced by boat, using the inbuilt acoustic recovery system. In the unlikely event of failure in the acoustic release system an ROV will be used from the same boat to service the mooring.   Please note the acoustic fish tracking moorings are being deployed as close to the wind turbine generators as possible to minimise interference with fishing operations (50m), should these be accidently caught only the instruments are required to be returned and the location of the discarded weight should be supplied to MSS for recovery later.

Fish capture traps and timed-release cages (8 traps and cages in total; Figures 3 and 4) will be deployed in Moray East and Beatrice sites. These traps and cages will be used in the capture and managed release of fish needed for internal electronic tagging with acoustic ID transmitter tags. Traps and cages will be present at Moray East and Beatrice for up to 10 days commencing 13th of April. Traps and cages will move at 1 to 2-day intervals. All traps and cages will be marked with creel style floats and clearly marked “Marine Scotland Science” and be marked with an AIS beacon (visible as MARLAB 1 – MARLAB 8). Traps and cages will be at least 100 metres from turbine locations. Locations of traps and cages will be notified to the relevant windfarm Marine Control Centre as appropriate

Contact details

All enquiries should be made to the Marine Scotland acoustics mailbox  acoustics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk) marked for the attention of Robert Main. Switch Board Tel: 0131 244 2500

Mariners are advised that CampionWind Limited (a 50/50 Joint Venture company between ScottishPower Renewables UK Limited and Shell New Energies Holding Limited) FLiDAR Buoy SWLB060 will remain mobilised until the 31st October 2024. Service activities on the buoy will be carried out at approximately three monthly intervals, depending on weather conditions.

Servicing activities will comprise of the following steps: − Temporary retrieval of the FLiDAR Buoy SWLB060 for transport to Aberdeen for servicing; − Collection of FLiDAR Buoy SWLB060 in Aberdeen for onsite redeployment.

The FLiDAR Buoy will be monitored remotely so that in the event of a mooring failure, a team can be mobilised to carry out recovery and re-deployment activities. The Seawatch FLiDAR Buoy is yellow in colour and will exhibit a navigation light according to IALA standards: five (5) flashes at one (1) Hertz, every twenty (20) seconds (Fl (5) Y 20s). The ranges for the light on the Buoy is 5 nautical miles.

The FLiDAR Buoys location is outlined below and displayed within the Notice to Mariners (provided as an attachment to this notice). This location is within the CampionWind offshore wind farm array area, off the east coast of Scotland.

CampionWind will not seek to submit an updated AIS licence to support this extended mobilisation as the existing AIS Licence (1280449/3) is valid until September 2027.

Mariners are advised that MarramWind Limited (a 50/50 Joint Venture company between ScottishPower Renewables UK Limited and Shell New Energies Holding Limited) FLiDAR Buoy WS198 will remain mobilised until the 31st October 2024. Service activities on the buoy will be carried out at approximately three-monthly intervals, depending on weather conditions.

Servicing activities will comprise of the following steps:

− Temporary retrieval of the FLiDAR Buoys WS198 for transport to Aberdeen for servicing;

− Collection of FLiDAR Buoy WS198 in Aberdeen for onsite redeployment.

All locations referred to are outlined in a table and displayed in Figure 1 within the Notice to Mariners (provided as an attachment to this notice). These locations are all within the MarramWind offshore wind farm 75 km off the east coast of Scotland.

FLiDAR Buoy WS198 is yellow in colour and will exhibit a navigation light according to IALA standards: five (5) flashes at one (1) Hertz, every twenty (20) seconds (Fl (5) Y 20s). The ranges for the lights on the buoy is 5 nautical miles.

Further details can be found within the attached Notice to Mariners.

Overview 

Mariners are advised that SSE Renewables will be returning to Berwick Bank Wind Farm area to continue Geotechnical survey work. The survey will be within the proposed Berwick Bank Wind Farm site boundary (see Figure 1). Respective co-ordinates are listed in Table 1.   

It should be noted that SSE Renewables are not expecting fishermen to relocate gear - on this occasion the vessel(s) will work around any gear on location. A scouting/guard vessel will operate ahead of the survey vessel to ensure that this can be achieved. 

The survey work is being undertaken by Fugro and will be conducted from the vessel Sea Gull. The geotechnical survey is due to start on 02 May 2024. The scouting/guard vessel will be the Artemis. 

Survey Duration  

The survey is planned to mobilise on 02 May 2024 lasting approximately 4 months. The planned survey end date will be no later than 30 September 2024 weather conditions permitting. 

Survey Tasks  

The scope of work within the main array area will comprise downhole sampling and cone penetration tests in sand and clay then extended by rotary core drilling in rock to depths up to 50 m below seabed. 

During the campaign, the survey vessel will be deploying underwater equipment to assess the geology in the area. As a consequence of equipment being deployed and the modes of operation, all mariners are advised to keep a safe clearance distance of no less than 500 m from the vessel(s). No towed equipment will be used.  

Eolos has deployed two (2) Floating LiDAR Devices offshore Scotland for the acquisition of Wind and Metocean Data for a minimum period of 24 months.

The units deployed are:

• FLS200 E25 (deployed 09 Apr 2023); and
• FLS200 E26 (deployed 08 Apr 2023)

Metocean buoy

Illustrative figures showing the buoy dimensions and general arrangement are provided in the attached NtM. 

Once in the water the top of the tallest mast is around 4 meters above the sea level.

The buoy is fitted with the following navigational safety features:

• Buoy painted yellow in colour;
• Yellow St Andrews Cross;
• Radar reflector;
• AIS AtoN (with MMSI 992351405, corresponding to Broadshore FLIDAR E26); and
• Marine lantern (with flash character Fl (5) Y 20s - 5 yellow flashes every 20 seconds) with a range of 5 nautical miles.

Mooring design

The buoy drifting radius is approximately 240 m from its deployment position. All material will be removed from the seabed after the measurement campaign is complete. The mooring layout design is provided on the final page of this document. The mooring layout design is provided as the final page of the attached NtM.

The works will commence on the 17th of April 2024, continuing until approximately Q3 2024. The works will be continuous 24 hours a day. A chart of the DBB construction area and the foundation locations are provided below. A running list of the next locations to be installed and mono-piled locations are presented in the Weekly Notice of Operations.

The installed monopiles will be marked with temporary lighting with the following characteristics:

•           Flashing (Fl) Yellow (Y) 2.5 seconds (s)

•           IALA Availability Category 2 (not less than 99.0%)

•           360° visibility – up to two lights per structure may be used to achieve this

•           At least 2 nm range.

During operations, the HLV Seaway Strashnov will be restricted in ability to manoeuvre as defined under COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972) and will display the appropriate day shapes and lights. The vessels will also transmit an Automatic Identification System (AIS) message.

During operations, a Statutory Safety zone of 500m radius will be in place around the HLV Seaway Strashnov.  The safety zones will be monitored by a guard vessel. The primary response will be to warn passing traffic of the ongoing works and any active safety zones, and to alert any vessels where an infringement may occur or has occurred

The ‘Wind Orca’ vessel is expected to arrive on site circa 6th April 2024 to complete offshore Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) installation onto the pre-installed monopile and transition pieces on site.  The overall duration is expected to be approximately 6-9 months. The Wind Orca will be supported by the SOV (Service Offshore Vessel) ‘Norwind Breeze’ and two CTV’s (Crew Transfer Vessels) Fob Swath 3 & Fob Swath5.

Transmission system operator Elia is building the Princess Elisabeth Island in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This artificial energy island is an extension of the electricity grid in the North Sea. It connects the future wind farms of the Princess Elisabeth Zone with the Belgian coast and creates new connections with neighbouring countries.

The energy island is built centrally in the Princess Elisabeth wind zone, approximately 45 km from the Belgian coast. Construction of the island will take several years. To ensure safety during the works, the Belgian government defined an exclusion zone within which only work vessels are allowed. This zone is marked by 4 cardinal buoys (ELI-N, ELI-E, ELI-S and ELI-W).

More information about the Princess Elisabeth Island is available on the Elia website: www.elia.be/projects. 

As part of the works to install a new subsea power cable in Kilbrannan Sound between Carradale and Arran a subsea bell mouth structure was required. Three concrete mattresses were also installed immediately to the west of the bell mouth. Details are provided on the attached notice to mariners.

Please find attached a chart showing the results of the Greater Gabbard OFTO export cable survey. The chart lists the changes to the exposures on the three export cables, on the inshore section between KP 3 and KP 5 with a free span remaining around KP 4. Between KP 36 and KP 38 there are some exposed sections as the cables enter the site. In addition, although listed as exposures on the chart, there are areas of shallow burial at KP10 and a cable exposure on the interconnector cable within the site.

The exposed/shallow burial areas are shown as the coloured dots on the cable route highlighted in a black box.  Equitix (Greater Gabbard OFTO) have asked that all Fishermen operate with caution when fishing anywhere on the cable route and particularly the areas that are shallow buried around KP10.’

Coordinates of exposed/shallow burial areas are shown on the attached chart.

The OFTO is updating its risk assessments to determine the extent of remedial measures that may be required. Equitix intend to provide an update on remediation after the risk assessment exercise is complete.’