Wicklow Harbour, Chart No. 633, 1121, 1411, 1468
To all ship owners, shipmasters, agents, fishing vessels, pleasure craft users, harbour users, seafarers and fishery organisations.
Geotechnical Site Investigation Survey in the Irish Sea (off Co. Wicklow), October - December 2020
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that a geotechnical survey will be undertaken in the Irish Sea (off the Wicklow coast) between October and December 2020 to provide site investigation information to facilitate the development of the Arklow Bank Wind Park.
The survey dates provided are weather dependent but are anticipated to start in October / November 2020 and be completed by the end of December 2020. The location of the surveys will be off the Wicklow coastline within an area as shown in the image at Figure 1 below, with the maximum extents of the survey boundary indicated by the hatched zone.
The survey activities will include approximately 15 boreholes which will be drilled at discrete locations within the hatched area and in compliance with the relevant foreshore license for the works. The license process is currently underway and the works will only commence subject to the license being awarded in advance.
The overall survey boundary coordinates are provided by the corner points below and as far inshore as the coastline. However, the actual extents of the surveys will be significantly reduced localized areas within this boundary.
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Latitude
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Longitude
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North West Corner
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52° 57' 37.58" N
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6° 0' 8.28" W
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North East Corner
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52° 56' 38.08" N
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5° 48' 38.84" W
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South East Corner
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52° 37' 25.43" N
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5° 53' 12.34" W
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South West Corner
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52° 39' 8.71" N
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6° 13' 19.02" W
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The geotechnical survey work will be completed by the Contractor Geoquip using the vessel, the Saentis, Callsign C6UM8 which is an 80 meter long Dynamically Positioned specialist survey vessel, with her current draught reported to be 5.1 meters and beam of 20 meters.
As this vessel will be engaged in site investigation survey operations, it will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. Listening watch VHF Channel 16Vessels are requested to leave a wide berth.
The vessel will be operating 24 hours per day during survey works.
For further information with respect to the survey operations, please contact:
Paul Doherty, Survey Manager at SSE, paul.doherty@sse.com