The Department of Transport has been notified by Asso.subsea that they will be performing boulder clearance and pre-trenching works on behalf of Nexans as part of the Celtic Interconnector Project.

The works will be located at various points along the planned route between the south-east coast of Ireland and the northern coast of France. The works were set to begin on Sunday 2 June and will continue until 10 November, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The boulder clearance and pre-trenching operations are within the cable corridor extending +/-500m to each side of the planned cable centreline.

Works are being conducted by the trenching support vessel Aethra (callsign SVDM6) which will display the relevant lights and shapes during periods of restricted manoeuvrability and adhere to COLREGS and all licencing requirements.

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

Further information, including a map and coordinates and contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 32 of 2024 attached below.

Kish Offshore Wind Ltd and Bray Offshore Wind Ltd are conducting site investigation operations and geotechnical surveys on the Dublin Array offshore wind farm project site and associated Export Corridor Route (ECR) off the coast of Dublin and Wicklow.

These operations commenced on Saturday 1 June and will continue to late June 2024, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The geotechnical drilling operations will be carried out in the nearshore area of the ECR by the jackup vessel Sandpiper (callsign V3UA) which will be mobilised from Dun Laoghaire. It will be manoeuvred using the tug Liftmoor (callsign MAZE8). A small crew transfer vassel (CTV) Catalina will be used for crew transfers during operations.

The jackup vessel alongside in Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

The Sandpiper will carry out 24-hour operations, surveying at fixed stations, and will be unable to manoeuvre. Therefore, all other vessels operating within the planned area of survey are requested to keep a wide berth around the vessel wherever possible.

The Sandpiper is supplied with a VHF multi-channel radio and mobile phone. It will display relevant lights and shapes as required under COLREGS.

Further information, including a map and coordinates and contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 28 of 2024 attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Limited of a maintenance campaign that will include an offshore pipeline and subsea structure inspection at the Corrib Gas Field subsea infrastructure.

This maintenance work was due to commence on Tuesday 14 May and will last for approximately 30 days.

A nearshore survey of the pipeline and umbilical of the Corrib subsea infrastructure will also take place. These works are due to commence on Friday 17 May and will last for approximately 10 days. All work dates are subject to weather and operational constraints.

Visual and acoustic surveys will be conducted by means of vessel- and ROV-mounted sensors. Electrical fault-finding will be conducted by ROV-mounted equipment.

The vessel EDT Jane (callsign 5BXW3) will undertake the subsea scope of work as part of the offshore pipeline and subsea structure inspection. All equipment used will be vessel and/or ROV mounted.

Elsewhere, the nearshore survey scope will be undertaken by the vessel Leah C (callsign EIQS5) while the vessels Macbel” (callsign EIHL5) and the Blue Eagle (callsign EI6808) will both provide safety and welfare support to Leah C. The vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Further information, including a map, coordinates and contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 23 of 2024 attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Asso.Subsea that they are performing trenching trials on behalf of Nexans for CIDAC as part of the Celtic Interconnector Project.

The trenching trials will be located at various points along the planned route between the South East Coast of Ireland and the northern coast of France.

These trials are taking place from this week until Thursday 30 May, subject to weather and operational constraints, and are being conducted within the cable corridor extending around 200m each side of the planned cable centreline.

Works will be conducted by the trenching support vessel vessel Athena (callsign SVDO4). During the trenching trials, the vessel will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre, and therefore all mariners are advised to provide a wide berth and navigate the area with caution.

The works vessel will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and will actively transmit an AIS signal.

Further information, including maps, coordinates and contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 27 of 2024 attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Donegal County Council that it intends to begin refurbishment works at Rathmullan Pier and viaduct on the Fanad Peninsula north-east of Letterkenny.

These works are starting with immediate effect and will be ongoing for the next seven months until 30 November.

They are being carried out by marine civil engineering contractors working from a temporary compound at the head of the pier, using work vessels, a work pontoon, heavy civil engineering plant and equipment. Divers may also be employed on site from time to time.

For safety reasons, mariners are advised to avoid attempting to berth at Rathmullan Pier or pontoon as the ladders and stairway are to be removed and replaced, as well as the pontoon itself for the duration of the works.

Mariners are also advised to proceed slowly and with caution within the vicinity of Rathmullan Pier. Wave wash from vessels should be avoided.

For more details, including a map of the works area and contact information, see Marine Notice No 26 of 2024 attached below.

The European Communities (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI No 110 of 2024) entered into force on 27 March 2024.

Changes to the regulations for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers now apply to all shipping terminals visited by bulk carriers for the loading or unloading of solid bulk cargoes, except those which are only visited by bulk carriers in exceptional circumstances.

The update also clarifies the requirements for regular verifications and unannounced inspections to be carried out by the Maribe Survey Office (MSO), and sets out the revised penalties for infringements.

For further details on the new regulations, see Marine Notice No 22 of 2024 attached below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Department of Transport has been advised by Dublin Array that they will be conducting geophysical, geotechnical and environmental surveys for the Dublin Array offshore wind farm project.

Site investigation operations for the wind farm and the Expert Corridor Route (ECR) between the coast of Dublin and Wicklow will take place between Friday 19 April and the end of July, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The geophysical survey will be carried out by the vessel Fugro Helmert (callsign C6FT8). During these operations, the vessel will be towing equipment at a depth of up to five metres below the surface and extending some 300 metres astern.

The geotechnical survey will be carried out by the vessel M/V Flat Holm (callsign GHLZ) at fixed stations. The environmental survey will be carried out by the vessel Ros Áine (callsign EIZG5) in daytime hours only.

All vessels will be mobilised from Dun Laoghaire and will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, therefore all other mariners are advised to provide a wide berth and navigate with caution in the relevant area.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area, as well as contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 18 of 2024, attached below.

Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST) will be undertaking both a geotechnical survey and geophysical survey for the Sceirde Rocks Windfarm Project in the Western Coastal Area (Connemara/Outer Galway Bay) and Atlantic Ocean, between Monday 15 April and Monday 10 June, subject to weather and operational constraints.

These surveys follow last September’s geophysical survey and will be undertaken by the multi-purpose offshore vessel Dina Polaris (callsign CQOF), which is fitted with a geotechnical drilling rig, and the research vessel Lady Kathleen (callsign EIXT2). Both vessels will operate up to 24 hours per day and will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes.

During operations, the vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. Therefore, passing vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the deployment operations. Radio transmissions will be conducted with other seafarers to notify them of the operations. The vessels will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 at all times for safety purposes.

The equipment for each survey will be deployed within the bounds of the survey areas detailed in Marine Notice No 17 of 2024, attached below.

Following cable lay operations set to conclude this weekend, Greenlink Interconnector Ltd will perform cable burial and trenching activities along the planned interconnector route.

These activities will be undertaken between Saturday 13 April and Thursday 20 June, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Operations will take place along the planned interconnector route between the landfall location near Baginbun Beach in Co Wexford and the middle of the Irish Sea. Coordinates and maps can be found in Marine Notice No 21 of 2024, attached below.

The works will be performed by the trenching support vessel Symphony (callsign LXTT). This vessel will have a trenching vehicle deployed or a remotely operated vehicle for survey activities deployed over the side.

As the work vessel will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre, all other vessels operating within this area are requested to keep a wide berth and pass at minimum speed to reduce vessel wash. The work vessel will be listening to VHF Channel 16 and can set any other channel as required.

For further details, including contact information, see the Marine Notice below.