INFOMAR will conduct a programme of hydrographic and geophysical surveys in the Celtic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea and western coastal areas between March and November this year.
Covering some 125,000sqkm of underwater territory, INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) aims to produce integrated mapping products covering the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed.
Along the lines of last year’s surveys, the 2022 operation will involve research vessels from Geological Survey Ireland (Keary, Geo, Lir, Galtee and Mallet) and the Marine Institute (Celtic Voyager and either the Celtic Explorer or the new RV Tom Crean) in a variety of surveys.
All vessels will display appropriate lights and markers, and will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the course of the survey.
The Marine Institute vessels will also each be towing a magnetometer sensor with a single cable of up to 200 metres in length, and a moving vessel profiler cable of variable length up to a maximum of 200 metres.
Further details — including coordinates, maps and contact information — can be found in Marine Notice No 11 of 2022 which is attached below.