Planning & Consultation

Marine Surveys

Technical viability

Marine surveys, which commenced in September 2018 and included geophysical and geotechnical surveys, have now all been completed.

Geophysical

The geophysical survey mapped the seabed and sub-surface geology along the survey route corridors to identify marine habitats, optimise cable routing within the survey corridor and enable the assessment of cable target burial depth. It also provided the geophysical data from which a marine archaeological assessment was undertaken as part of the consenting process.

Documents pertaining to this section can be found here

Notices can
be found below

MV_Franklin_marine_survey_vessel._Photo_

Geotechnical

The geotechnical surveys evaluated the nature and mechanical properties of the seabed and intertidal sediments along the survey corridor. This was done using a number of techniques, including drilling boreholes and taking shallow core samples.

Marine environmental assessments

Greenlink will cross a number of European Marine Protected Sites: Special Areas of Conservation designated for the protection of habitats and species, and Special Protection Areas designated for the protection of wild birds. To determine if the project is likely to have a significant effect on the conservation objectives of the sites, a Habitats Regulations Assessment is being carried out in Wales and a Natura Impact Statement is being carried out in Ireland. These processes identify any potential impacts Greenlink may have on designated sites and assesses whether it is likely that the feature of the site will be affected.

Where Greenlink is likely to undermine the conservation objectives of the site e.g. it is possible that condition, characteristics, or distribution of the feature cannot be maintained, then mitigation measures are proposed to manage or reduce the potential negative impacts identified.

We are undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment for Greenlink. An Environmental Statement will be completed for the marine components of the project in Wales and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be completed for marine components in Ireland. The Habitats Regulations Assessment (Wales) and Natura Impact Statement (Ireland) will form part of this larger environmental appraisal.

Topics covered by the environmental assessment will include:

» Coastal processes
» Protected sites
» Benthic ecology
» Fish and shellfish
» Marine birds
» Marine mammals and reptiles
» Marine archaeology and unexploded ordnance
» Fisheries
» Shipping and navigation
» Recreation and other sea users
» Cumulative effects

NOTICE TO MARINERS - 19 September 2018

Public Notice: The marine survey contractor MMT will be conducting a marine geophysical and geotechnical survey on behalf of Greenlink Interconnector Limited, South Bank House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, for the Greenlink Interconnector project over the course of the next two months under Foreshore Licence FS006582. The works will take place off Baginbun Beach and possibly Boyce’s Bay, Co. Wexford, Ireland. They will comprise nearshore vessel and offshore vessel based geophysical data acquisition. Further works will be undertaken by vessel and jack up platform to undertaken geotechnical investigations.

Subsea surveys are now underway.

Please read the notice here.

MARINE LICENCE APPLICATION – 16 May 2018

We have applied to Natural Resources Wales, acting on behalf of the Licensing Authority, for a marine licence to undertake geophysical, geotechnical and environmental marine surveys of the proposed Greenlink cable route. Please read more below:

MARINE LICENCE APPLICATION – 11 April 2018

FORESHORE LICENCE APPLICATION - 18 January 2018

We have submitted an application to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for a foreshore licence to carry out the first marine surveys for the Greenlink interconnector. These surveys are required to fully explore the potential for routing the proposed interconnector cables to the areas surrounding Boyce’s Bay and Baginbun Beach on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford. Full details of the application, including how to respond to the consultation, can be found in the documents below.