Metoc plc: New Power Connection Cable for Rathlin Island, UK.LONDON -- Environmental engineers Metoc plc has been appointed by Northern Ireland Electricity Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) is the electricity transmission company in Northern Ireland. NIE does not generate electricity but purchases it from several power stations in Northern Ireland, as well as interconnectors with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. (Powerteam) as marine consultants for a proposed submarine power cable Submarine power cables are cables for electrical power running through the sea, below the surface. A DC system may use the ground and seawater as a return path for current. connection between Rathlin Island Rathlin Island (răth`lĭn), 5 sq mi (13 sq km), Co. Moyle, N Northern Ireland. Its cliffs, of limestone and basalt, rise at Slieveacarn to 449 ft (137 m). Farming and fishing are important. St. and County Antrim County Antrim (Contae Aontroma in Irish) is one of the six counties that form Northern Ireland. It is the 9th largest of the 32 traditional counties of Ireland in terms of area, and 2nd in terms of population behind Dublin. , Northern Ireland, UK. Cable length will be between 11 and 17 kms, subject to final route selection by NIE NIE Newspapers in Education NIE National Intelligence Estimate (US government) NIE Newspaper In Education NIE National Institute of Education (various countries) and approval by regulatory bodies. Church Bay, the proposed connection point on Rathlin Island, lies 10 kms from Ballycastle on the Antrim coast and 26 kms from the Mull of Kintyre The Mull of Kintyre is the most southwesterly section of the long Kintyre Peninsula in southwestern Scotland. The name is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Maol Ceanntìre. in Scotland. The island has a history of habitation HABITATION, civil law. It was the right of a person to live in the house of another without prejudice to the property. 2. It differed from a usufruct in this, that the usufructuary might have applied the house to any purpose, as, a store or manufactory; whereas since Mesolithic times (6,000 BC). Rathlin Island contains Northern Ireland's only offshore candidate Special Area of Conservation and in addition to the wide diversity of protected habitats and species it is an important bird sanctuary. The route to Rathlin Island is described by Alistair Bird of Metoc as challenging: "There is a rocky shoreline, water depths of up to 145m and some of the strongest tidal currents in the British Isles". Metoc's role as marine consultants was critical in addressing the interface between the environmental sensitivity of the area and the engineering challenges it presents, according to Alistair Bird. Previous geophysical and metocean surveys provided some suggestions for routing. Following a review of this legacy data and discussions with cable installers, alternative routes were recommended taking into account both changes in the environmental consenting regime and current cable installation resources and technology. After talks with statutory consultees, an Appropriate Assessment of survey techniques on species and habitats was completed - ensuring that the project programme was not delayed. Survey management covered all aspects of the operation from drafting the work scope, through tender evaluation to on-board Client Representation - this helped ensure an efficient survey through data quality control & liaison between the marine mammal observer A marine mammal observer (MMO) is a professional in environmental consulting who specialises in whales and dolphins. In recent years there has been increased concern for the effect of man-made noise pollution in the ocean, particularly upon cetaceans - which are known to be , fishing activities and ferry operations. The survey was completed within both the required time frame and cost budget. As part of the report submission, technical specifications were supplied for key GIS data deliverables - this provides the data for both route engineering and the consenting process as the project moves forward. Note to Editor: Metoc provides support to the water, energy, marine cable and renewables industry sectors on environmental and related regulatory issues. Services include: research, planning, risk management, contract negotiations, data gathering and site supervision, as well as predictive modelling, and environmental optimisation. |
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