Farice IRIS Subsea Cable

IRIS Cable System 1 March 2021 Job No. 1334

Farice – IRIS Subsea Cable

Planning Report

Application

For

Foreshore Licence for Main-Lay


Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 4

2.0 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................... 7

3.0 THE PLANNED ROUTE ............................................................................10

4.0 LANDFALL AT BALLYLOUGHANE STRAND .....................................26

5.0 SUBSEA CABLE INSTALLATION ..........................................................30

6.0 EXISTING SUBSEA INFRASTRUCTURE & MARINE ACTIVITIES. .41

7.0 NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS ...................................48

8.0 MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY ......................................................................50

9.0 NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT ............................................................52

10.0 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................................53

Appendix 1 – Drawings. .........................................................................................54

Appendix 2 – Route Position List...........................................................................55

Appendix 3 – Marine Archaeology Assessment Report. .......................................57

Appendix 4 – AA Screening and Natura Impact Statement. ................................58

Appendix 5 – Ecological Impact Assessment Report. ...........................................59

Table of Figures Figure 1. Proposed IRIS Subsea Cable System ........................................................... 4

Figure 2. Typical Double Armour Cable Section ........................................................ 8

Figure 3. Landfall at Ballyloughane to the 12 Mile Limit ..........................................10

Figure 4. 12 Mile Limit to the EEZ Boundary. ...........................................................11

Figure 5. Ballyloughane to Black Head. ....................................................................12

Figure 6. SBP data between KP8.8 and KP9.3 ..........................................................13

Figure 7. SBP data between KP9.3 and KP9.8 ..........................................................14

Figure 8. SBP data at 20m WD between KP13 and KP13.5 ......................................15

Figure 9. SBP data between KP20.8 and KP21.3 ......................................................15

Figure 10. The South Sound .....................................................................................16

Figure 11. SBP data between KP27.4 and KP27.8 ....................................................17

Figure 12. SBP data between KP27.4 and KP27.8 ....................................................17

Figure 13. SSS showing low rock to north of route at KP32. ....................................18

Figure 14. SSS showing route clear of rock outcrop. ................................................19

Figure 15. The Aran Islands ......................................................................................20

Figure 16. DTM example between KP50 and KP57 ..................................................21

Figure 17. Aran Islands to 12 Mile Limit ...................................................................22

Figure 18. SBP data betwen KP86.3 and KP87.2 ......................................................23

Figure 19. 12 Mile Limit to EEZ boundary. ...............................................................24

Figure 20. Approach to landfall at Ballyloughane Strand.........................................26

Figure 21. Ballyloughane Strand ..............................................................................27


Figure 22. Shoreline at Ballyloughane. ...................................................................27

Figure 23. Ordnance Survey Map: Scale 6" to 1 mile ...............................................28

Figure 24. Ordnance Survey Map: Scale 1/1000. ....................................................29

Figure 25. Inshore Approach ....................................................................................31

Figure 26. General Schematic of Horizontal Directional Drill ...................................32

Figure 27. Sandpiper Jetsled ....................................................................................36

Figure 28. Beach Access ...........................................................................................38

Figure 29. Offshore Cable Installation and Plough Burial. .......................................39

Figure 30. Commercial Fisheries Inshore .................................................................42

Figure 31. Aquaculture in Galway Bay .....................................................................43

Figure 32. Licence Blocks off the west and northwest of Ireland .............................45

Figure 33. Commercial Fisheries Offshore. .............................................................46

Figure 34. Shipping Traffic (AIS data, 2018) ............................................................47


1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 It is planned to construct a new sub-sea telecoms cable system, IRIS, linking

Iceland to Ireland. The system is to extend from a landfall on the Reykjanes Peninsula

in the south west of Iceland to a landfall at Galway on the west coast of Ireland as

shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Proposed IRIS Subsea Cable System

Galway

Reykjanes


1.2 The proposed project arises from discussions between Farice ehf (Ltd) and

DeepSea Fibre Networks Ltd. Farice ehf (Ltd) was founded in November 2002 by a

number of telecommunications companies in Iceland and the Faroe Islands as well as

the Icelandic State in order to build and operate the FARICE-1 submarine cable. That

cable was put into service in January 2004 and a second cable, DANICE, was put into

service in September 2009. The Icelandic state now has 100% of the shares under its

ownership and the company is the main provider of wholesale broadband capacity in

and out of Iceland.

1.3 The high-level programme for the project is as follows:

Submit Main-Lay Application: February 2021

Contracts for Main-Lay & Cable: March 2021

Shore-end Installation: April 2022

Main-Lay: May – August 2022

This is the proposed overall programme but may be subject to change

arising from the Licensing/Permitting process.

1.4 A cable route survey and Site Investigations have been carried out in the form

of geophysical survey (utilising acoustic remote sensing techniques such as

Multibeam echo sounder, Side scan sonar, Sub bottom profiler and non-acoustic

Marine magnetometer) with selective sampling of the seabed (geotechnical survey)

for ground truthing and assessment. The results of the survey, which was carried out

in September 2020, have been analysed and a draft preferred route corridor was

developed. An Appropriate Assessment screening report and stage 2 Natura Impact

Statement, an Ecological Impact Assessment Study and a Marine Archaeology and

Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment were also undertaken and, taking all factors into


account, a final Route Position List (RPL) has been developed in Irish Territorial Waters

and extending northwards to the EEZ boundary.

1.5 This planning report has been prepared by MDM Ltd and forms part of an

application for a Foreshore Licence for Cable Installation in Irish Territorial Waters.

The report presents a Route Position List indicating the centre line for the cable route

corridor within the Irish EEZ, an outline of the seabed conditions to be traversed, the

Appropriate Assessment screening report and stage 2 Natura Impact Statement, an

Ecological Impact Assessment Study and a Marine Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Impact Assessment. It is accompanied by appropriate maps, diagrams and route

drawings.


2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 The planned Route Corridor in Irish waters is based on the following:

Detailed Marine Survey and Site Investigations incorporating Bathymetry,

Side Scan Sonar, Multi-Beam Backscatter, Sub-Bottom Profile and

Magnetometer data.

Sea-bed Sediment and Bedform data for Galway Bay available under

licence via the Marine Institute

Landfall Features.

Galway Port Development Plan.

Admiralty Chart Data

Inventory of Wrecks.

Inventory of existing cables.

Inventory of marine installations and licence blocks.

Marine Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment.

AA screening & stage 2 Natura Impact Statement.

Ecological Impact Assessment.

Liaison with representatives of the local Fishing community.

Other data in the public domain.

2.2 The cable is to be an industry-standard cable with the capability to transmit

high-speed data and voice via light wave through the optical fibres contained within

the core Unit Fibre Structure (UFS). The “IRIS” cable will have a total of 6 Fibre Pairs.

The cable will be double armoured in Irish waters and a cut-away section of the cable

is shown in Figure 2.


Figure 2: Typical Double Armour Cable Section

2.3 The UFS is the innermost element of the cable and consists of optical fibres

embedded in a buffer gel material inside a Polybutylene Terephthalate plastic tube.

The buffer gel is a thixotropic material that protects the optical fibres from shear

stresses associated with movement inside the tube. Ultra-high strength steel wires

are helically wrapped around the UFS and together they act as a pressure vessel

that protects the UFS from stresses up to and in excess of 100 MPa. The interstices

between the steel wires are filled with a hydrophobic elastomeric water-blocking

material which resists longitudinal water ingress. The SL design includes a

conductor to carry both system power and the cable monitoring and maintenance

signal. The power conductor is constructed by seam welding a copper tape around

the high-strength wires. A thin layer of ethylene-acrylic and copolymer plastic resin

and a thick layer of polyethylene insulating jacket are coextruded over the copper

sheath. The polyethylene jacket provides insulation, abrasion resistance and

corrosion protection.

Cable ID 35.9mm


2.4 The double armour, consisting of two layers of galvanised wire wrapped

around the cable, is coated with hot-blown petroleum asphalt and wound with

asphalt-soaked yarn. The finished DA Cable has an outer diameter of 35.9mm.

2.5 The cable will have Repeaters approximately 80km apart. These are “Optical

Amplifiers” whose primary purpose is to boost the optical signal along the route.

The copper conductors inside the cable power these Repeaters. The system line

current will be of the order of 1 amp. The capacity of the cable is between 15 to

18 Terabit’s per Fibre Pair. The deciding factor between 15 to 18 terabit’s is

dependent on the type and make of electronics that is installed at each Cable

Landing Station (CLS).


3.0 THE PLANNED ROUTE

The General Route in Irish Territorial Waters

3.1 The IRIS cable system extends from a landfall at Galway to the 12 Mile

Limit off the south west corner of Connemara and this is shown in Figure 3. The

landfall at Galway is planned to be at Ballyloughane in Renmore, to the east of the

City. The route follows a westerly course from the landfall through the inner

section of Galway Bay before swinging southwest towards Black Head where it

turns at Kp 26 to a southerly direction to traverse the South Sound between the

Clare Coast and Inis Oirr. The route turns on to a north westerly course at KP 44

and runs parallel to the Aran Islands with an offset of approximately 4.6 km. It then

takes a heading west before dipping slightly south west to cross the 12 Mile Limit

at KP 102.01.

Ballyloughane

Strand

IRL 12nm Limit

Galway Bay KP102.01

KP44

Figure 3. Landfall at Ballyloughane to the 12 Mile Limit


The General Route in Irish EEZ Waters

3.2 The route of the cable to the EEZ boundary is presented in Figure 4 and it shows

the cable staying on a westerly course for a short distance beyond the 12 Mile Limit

to a turning point at KP 125 where it swings to the north west to traverse the

Continental Shelf ( Figure 4). At KP 200 it turns to a more northerly course to KP 276

at the edge of the Rockall Trough. The route then proceeds to traverse the down-slope

of the Continental Shelf and on to the floor of the Rockall Trough where it turns on to

a northerly course at KP 315. The cable runs northwards through the Rockall Trough

to cross the EEZ boundary at Kp 561 and continues from there to the Icelandic coast

and the landfall at KP1695 on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Figure 4. 12 Mile Limit to the EEZ Boundary.

3.3 The Route Position List is presented in Appendix 1.

Rockall Trough

Porcupine

Bank

Hebrides Terrace

Seamount

Anton Dohrn

Seamount

KP125

KP 200

KP 276

KP 315

KP 561

IRL EEZ


Specific Sections of Route

3.4 Specific sections of the route from Galway to the EEZ boundary, off the north

west coast, are as follows;

Landfall at Ballyloughane to Black Head

The South Sound

The Aran Islands

The Aran Islands to the 12 Mile Limit

12 Mile Limit to the EEZ Boundary

3.5 The distance from the landfall at Ballyloughane to the 12 Mile Limit is 102

kilometres and the overall distance to the EEZ boundary is 561 kilometres.

Ballyloughane to Black Head

3.6 The planned route of the cable in this section traverses the Inner Bay and it is

presented in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Ballyloughane to Black Head.

KP 3

KP 25.7


3.7 It can be seen from Figure 5 that, as it leaves Ballyloughane, the route of the

cable proceeds to the west of Hare Island, avoiding traversing the existing and

proposed future navigation channels of Galway Port. The route continues in a general

west south west heading, carefully diverting around zones of ecological importance

and navigation hazards such as the shallows of the Tawin and Margaretta shoals and

the Henry ledges.

3.8 Once past the Margaretta shoals, the cable route traverses the Bay in a south

westerly direction, then turning at KP 25.7 near Black Head to proceed southwards

through the South Sound.

3.9 The seabed sediments are generally comprised of a veneer of loose to medium

dense gravelly sand with isolated boulders (height: <0.5m) over soft to stiff silt. Figure

6 and Figure 7 are examples of sub-bottom profiler data along the route in this area.

Figure 6. SBP data between KP8.8 and KP9.3



3.10 The route continues to the WSW on a very gently descending seabed

comprised which gradually transitions to being comprised of less than 1m of loose silty

sand over interbedded medium dense to dense sand and soft to stiff silt by KP11.9 in

18m WD. CP002 and GC002 locations were selected near the 20m WD location. The

CPT encountered ~0.4m of very loose to medium dense sand over interbedded

medium dense silty sand and soft to stiff sandy silt to ~1.65m over dense to very dense

sand to the end of the 3m push.

3.11 A dense substrate is encountered below the planned burial depth at KP13. The

sub-bottom profiler record in that area is presented as Figure 8 and also illustrates an

area of blanking caused by the presence of gas or rock below burial depth.


Figure 8. SBP data at 20m WD between KP13 and KP13.5


3.12 The route continues to the WSW on a very gently descending seabed and

transitions from a seabed comprised of <1m of loose silty sand over interbedded

medium dense sand and soft to stiff sandy silt to a veneer of loose silty sand with


poorly developed megaripples over <1.5m of soft to stiff sandy silt over interbedded

medium dense to dense sand and firm to stiff sandy silt around KP20.8 in 31m WD.

The South Sound

3.9 The route of the cable through the South Sound is presented in Figure 10.

Figure 10. The South Sound

3.10 From the turning point off Black Head, the route proceeds parallel to the

Clare coast and transits through the South Sound. It avoids the limestone bedrock

outcrops surrounding Inis Oírr, following lenses of sandy sediment for optimum

KP 25.7

KP 45.5


burial conditions. An example of SBP data from the area is presented as Figure 11

and Figure 12.

Figure 11 SBP data between KP27.4 and KP27.8

Figure 12 SBP data between KP27.4 and KP27.8


3.11 Near KP32 the seabed is consistent with the previous section, but an area of

low relief ROCK outcrop is delineated to W of the route near the edge of the corridor

as illustrated in Figure 13.

Figure 13 SSS showing low rock to north of route at KP32.

3.12 There is a curving linear depression/channel feature of less than 0.5m in

depth near KP38.4. This area is between Inisheer Island to just north of Doolin Point.

Currents here would be expected to increase because of the constriction between

the island and the mainland.

3.13 The route continues to the SSW avoiding ROCK outcrop and subcrop. The

seabed appears featureless and seabed slopes are gentle but subcrop is still


intermittently present along the route corridor in areas; however, the installation

route chosen avoids these rock outcrops and follows the sediment layers (Figure 14).

Figure 14 SSS showing route clear of rock outcrop.


The Aran Islands

3.14 On traversing the South Sound the route of cable turns to the north west and

runs parallel to the Aran Islands as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15. The Aran Islands

3.15 At KP50, the route is heading to the West on a seabed comprised of more than

1.5m of interbedded medium dense to dense silty sand and firm to stiff silt over dense

sand and rock. The subcrop undulates in and out of the 1.5m burial depth until KP52

where the sediment thickness increases to more than 1.5m until KP55 where subcrop

is present again. Figure 16 is a DTM illustrating the nature of the seabed surface from

KP50 to KP57.

3.16 A gradational boundary is encountered at KP65.6 where sediments transition

from interbedded soft to stiff sandy silt and medium dense to dense sand with

occasional poorly formed megaripples to a veneer of loose to dense silty sand with

occasional megaripples over soft to stiff sandy SILT.

3.17 The route continues to the NW and skirts between areas of outcrop on the N

side of the route and on the south side as well to maintain installation in sediment

layers.

KP 50

KP 79


3.18 The route continues to the WNW on a very gently descending seabed to KP71

without encountering more outcrop or subcrop. There are areas of both near the

northeastern extents of the corridor, but the route remains closer to the southwestern

portion of the corridor to avoid these potential obstructions.

Figure 16. DTM example between KP50 and KP57

The Aran Islands to the 12 Mile Limit

3.19 Off the southwest of Inis Mor the route turns to a westerly course, as shown

in Figure 17, before turning to the southwest at KP 94 and crossing the 12 Mile Limit

at 53° 06' 05.4562" N, 10° 14' 24.4694" W which is at KP 102.


Figure 17. Aran Islands to 12 Mile Limit

3.20 CPT 018 was conducted at KP80.5 and encountered 3m of very soft to firm

sandy silt. The route continues altering course to the W and becomes situated near

the southern extents of the corridor. Sediments recovered from the GC009 location

at KP83.5 were comprised of 1.5m of very soft sandy silt.

3.21 The sediments thicken again and the route is clear of obstructions until

subcrop is again encountered between KP86.8 and KP86.9. The sediment cover

appears to be very close to 1.5m as illustrated in Figure 18.

KP 102

KP 79


Figure 18. SBP data betwen KP86.3 and KP87.2

3.22 The route continues to the W across a very gently descending seabed

comprised of greater than 1.5m of very soft to firm sandy silt until encountering

subcrop between KP89.5 and KP89.6 where the sediments are close to 1.5m in

thickness. CPT 021 indicates 3m of very soft to firm sandy silt at KP92.3.

3.23 The route continues altering course to the SW on a very gently descending

seabed comprised of alternating bands of very soft to firm sandy, gravelly SILT with

occasional scars and very soft to firm sandy silt with occasional scars. The seabed

begins to ascend very gently at KP99.0 and the seabed becomes comprised of a veneer

of loose gravelly sand with numerous megaripples over Glacial Till.

The 12 Mile Limit to the EEZ Boundary

3.24 At KP125, to the west of the 12 Mile Limit the route swings on to a north

westerly course, as shown in Figure 19.


Figure 19 12 Mile Limit to EEZ boundary.

3.25 The route proceeds to traverse Continental Shelf waters on a north west

heading to a turning point at Kp 216. At that point it changes to a more northerly

course to the edge of the Continental Shelf at Kp 270. This point is approximately 120

kms to the west of Erris Head on the Mayo coastline.

IRL EEZ KP 545

KP 125

KP 216

KP 313


3.26 The route then drops into the deep waters of the Rockall Trough at Kp 285 and

continues to a turning point at Kp 313 where it turns to a direct northerly heading

through the Rockall Trough to cross the Irish EEZ boundary at Kp 545.


4.0 LANDFALL AT BALLYLOUGHANE STRAND

The Landfall at Ballyloughane Strand

4.1 The proposed landfall is located at Ballyloughane Strand at Renmore in

Galway City. Ballyloughane Strand is sheltered by Mutton Island and causeway from

sea conditions generated by westerly winds. It is sheltered from the south by Hare

Island and the causeway connecting it to the shoreline. The beach is exposed to sea

conditions generated by south westerly winds but the fetch is quite short and the

water depths are quite shallow. These features are shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20. Approach to landfall at Ballyloughane Strand

4.2 The proposed landfall is located approximately mid-way along Ballyloughane

Strand. The shoreline (Figures 21 & 22) is in the form of a stable sandy beach with a

low stub wall protecting a footway which defines the land-sea boundary. Inland of

the footway there is a grass strip which separates the footway from end-on parking

bays and a local road.

Ballyloughane Strand

Mutton Island

Hare Island

Galway Port


Figure 21. Ballyloughane Strand

Figure 22 Shoreline at Ballyloughane.


Ordnance Survey Maps

4.3 An OS Map to a scale of 6” to 1 mile (1/10,560) is presented in Figure 23. This is

the current published edition but was last revised in 1945. The line of the proposed

route is shown in red and it finishes at the High-Water line at Ballyloughane Strand.

Figure 23 Ordnance Survey Map: Scale 6" to 1 mile

4.4 An OS Map to a scale of 1/1000 is presented in Figure 24. This is the current

published edition and was last revised in 2016. The planned cable route is denoted

by the red line.


Figure 24 Ordnance Survey Map: Scale 1/1000.


5.0 SUBSEA CABLE INSTALLATION

5.1 The cable system is comprised of a number of specific installations as follows;

The Landfall at Galway (Ballyloughane Strand)

Cable Installation on the Beach

Subsea Cable Installation

Inshore Approach

5.2 The inshore approach to the landfall is shown in Figure 25 on an Admiralty

Chart base. The beach is gently sloping and extends over a distance of 560 metres to

the Low Water Line (Mean Springs).

5.3 Seaward of the Low Water Line the seabed continues its gentle slope to cross

the 5 metre water depth contour at 1.43 kilometres metres from the shore-line. The

gently sloping sea-be extends for a further 4.3 kilometres before it reaches the 10m

water depth contour.

5.4 The line of the planned route on the approach to the landfall has been developed

and agreed in consultation with the Harbour Master at Galway Port with respect to

navigation and future expansion of the port.


Figure 25. Inshore Approach

Horizontal Directional Drill

5.5 Taking the features of the shoreline into account it is planned that the landfall

will be installed by means of a Horizontal Directional Drill which will be carried out in

advance of the main-lay, i.e. Advance Marine Works. It is planned that the drill rig will

be located in the “green” immediately north of the public road. The drill-casing will

commence in a pit 1.5m below ground level and this will enable it to cross at 2.5m

depth below the road and well below the existing beach level at the shoreline. This

form of installation will avoid any excavation or damage to the shoreline and will

ensure that nothing is done which would impact on the stability of the shoreline.

5.6 The drill-casing will extend 170 metres beyond the shoreline and the shelving

beach adjacent to it and will terminate in the flat sandy foreshore at a depth of 1.5m

below beach level. Drilling seaward to that extent will ensure that there will be no

impairment of use of the upper section of the beach. A schematic of the Horizontal

Directional Drill is presented in Figure 26.


Figure 26 General Schematic of Horizontal Directional Drill

5.7 Data pertaining to the Horizontal Directional Drill is as follows;

Length of Horizontal Directional Drill – Approximately 200m

Internal diameter of Drill-Casing – 109mm.

Drill-Casing Material S-135 High Strength Steel.

Length of individual Drill-Casing Pipes – 6.1m.

Entry Angle – Less than 10°.

Descent Angle – Less than 15°

Ascent Angle – Less than 15°.

Exit Angle – Less than 10°.

Composition of drilling fluid – 60 to 70kg Bentonite per 1m³ of water.

Max volume of drilling fluid in HDD will be 1.9 m³.

Expected drilling rate – Approx. 100m/day.

Planned working hours – 12 hours/day.

5.8 The procedure to be followed for site preparation and HDD set up consists of

three stages.

1. A perimeter fence will be set up and the drill pit site will be clearly

signposted informing the general public of the work in progress while

limiting access to the site.

2. The minimum area necessary will be utilised to reduce the impact of

the works.


3. All the equipment necessary for the drill pit and drill rig installation will

be transported to the site pending the excavation of the pit and the

final positioning of all necessary tools and equipment.

4. The pit will be excavated and lined with geotextile and polyethylene

sheet to prevent any seepage of drilling fluids into the surrounding soil.

5.9 The drilling process will be closely monitored and logs will be kept over the

entire duration of the operations. The drill design will be followed so that the

achievable drill will be within acceptable tolerances. The bore alignment will follow

the reference alignment shown on the plans and will be accurate to within the

following tolerances:

The bore entry angle will not exceed fifteen (15) degrees

Installation of the horizontal directional drill will be within 1 m of the

centreline of the bore indicated on the drawings at the bore entry.

Installation of the horizontal directional drill will be within 3 m of the

centreline of the bore indicated on the drawings for the entire length

of the bore.

The bore exit angle will be maintained at ten (10) degrees or flatter.

5.10 The method employed to monitor the progress of the HDD necessitates the

use of a wire-line connected transmitter system in order to provide sufficient data so

that the drill bit’s relative position is recorded in real-time throughout the entire

drilling operation. A non-magnetic sonde will be installed on an adaptor casing

following the mud motor attachment in the bore and wire-lined back to the HDD Rig.

This sonde is responsible for transmitting a signal to provide real-time information

regarding the drill bit’s azimuth, vertical distance from the receiver (which is

translated as depth) as well as its coordinates (Latitude – Longitude). All information

transmitted is constantly displayed in a remote monitor mounted on the HDD machine

so that the operator is always aware of the precision of the bore’s progress.


5.11 Bentonite is commonly used as drilling mud to lubricate and cool cutting tools,

to remove cuttings and help prevent blowouts. Bentonite is a ground naturally

occurring clay. It is inorganic, non-toxic and non-irritating. It has a specific gravity of

approximately 2.4 and comes in the form of a grey powder. It expands when wet and,

when mixed with water at a concentration of the order of 60-70kg of bentonite

powder per m³ of water, it takes on the characteristics of a gel. Bentonite is widely

used in the construction industry as a drilling fluid, as a lining for the base of landfills

and for the construction of curtain walls to waterproof below-grade excavations.

5.12 It is planned to clean out and flush the steel drill casing with water when it

reaches its target length and a temporary pit will then be excavated at the exit

location. Whilst it is anticipated that no bentonite will escape from the HDD bore

which will be 1.5 m below the sand surface, any residue which may escape will be very

little and will be contained in the exit pit.

5.13 All necessary precautions shall be put in place to protect foreshore users in

accordance with relevant Health and Safety Legislation with temporary fencing,

barriers and signage in place around the location of the exit pit. The minimum area

necessary will be utilised to reduce the impact of the works. Excavation and backfill of

the reception pit will involve the use of a tracked excavator or JCB on the beach for a

short period.

5.14 The volume of fluids and cuttings produced during the HDD process will be

removed from the on-shore drilling pit at regular intervals by way of sludge pumps

and sent to the recycling unit positioned alongside the drilling pit. Solids can be

optically assessed with accuracy after the fluid turbidity clears and the volume of fluids

can be also calculated. All residue will be disposed of in accordance with the

requirements of Galway City Council.

5.15 Once the HDD pipe is installed, it will be tested through its entire length to

prove the minimum internal diameter required and to ensure that no abnormalities,


which may affect the future cable landing, are existent. After the pipe inspection, a

messenger line (3/8” wire rope) will be installed and a cap will be fitted to prevent the

ingress of any sediment and/or debris.

Site Restoration

5.16 On completion of the HDD Works, the site will be restored to its

prior condition. All materials and equipment will be removed and the site area will be

cleaned and reinstated to its original condition. This will include the following:

Remove all debris and project-related material from the site at the

completion of the work.

Remove of all evidence of machinery presence and reinstatement of

the ground to its original condition.

Replant any and all vegetation damaged during the drilling operations.

Repair any damage to structures such as kerbs, fences, walls, gates, etc.

Beach Manhole & Ocean Ground Bed

5.17 The beach manhole is to be constructed onshore in the grassed area east of

the road at Ballyloughane, above the High Water Mark and outside the Foreshore

Limits. The Beach Manhole will be 3m long x 2m wide x 2m deep and is to be

constructed in reinforced concrete. Only the manhole cover will be visible at the

surface once the construction is complete. An ocean ground bed is a set of electrodes

which provides the return path for the electrical circuit that powers the repeaters

(amplifiers) in the submarine cable system. The ocean ground bed is typically buried

at least 2m below ground level. The plan dimensions of the ground bed will be 6m in

length and 1m in width – it is effectively a 6m long trench. This will be covered and the

ground reinstated.


Inshore Cable Installation

5.18 The cable installation from the end of the HDD out to the low water line will

be installed at low tide. The cable will be floated ashore from a Shallow-Draft Lay

Vessel using rigid inflatable boats (ribs) and buoys at high tide. Once the tide ebbs, the

end of the HDD duct will be exposed and the cable will be inserted in the HDD duct

and pulled from there into the Beach Manhole where it will be secured.

5.19 The section of cable from the end on the HDD to the low water line on the

intertidal will then be trenched to a target depth of 1.5m on a receding tide. Trenching

beyond the low water line will be achieved by the Shallow-Draft Lay Vessel with an

appropriate trenching tool such as the Sandpiper Jetsled (Figure 27). The deployment

and burial of the cable will continue to the 15 metre water depth at which point the

Main-Lay vessel will take over to plough-bury the cable.

Figure 27. Sandpiper Jetsled


Beach / Foreshore Access 5.20 There will be a requirement for equipment access to the beach / foreshore for;

Excavation and backfill of an exit pit at the end of the Horizontal

Directional Drill.

Pulling the cable ashore.

Installation of the cable from the end of the Horizontal Directional

Drill out to the Low Water Line.

5.21 The equipment will involve tracked excavators for the pit at the end of the

Horizontal Directional Drill and for pulling the cable ashore.

5.22 It is proposed that the equipment will gain access to the beach via the existing

concrete slipway approximately 130 metres southeast of the line of the cable,

adjacent to the car parking area (Figure 28). Existing public access arrangements to

the general foreshore area shall not be impeded by plant or materials used in

connection with the works and all necessary precautions shall be put in place to

protect foreshore users and the public in accordance with relevant Health and Safety

Legislation.


Figure 28. Beach Access

Offshore Cable Installation

5.23 A Pre-Lay Grapnel Run (PLGR) will be undertaken prior to commencement of

Main-Lay. This activity is to ensure that the planned line of the cable is clear of seabed

debris which may include chains, steel cables, anchors, nets etc. The swathe of the

grapnel is less than 1 metre wide and there will be minimal disturbance of the sea-bed

during the debris clearance operation. All debris recovered from the sea-bed will be

hauled on board and subsequently disposed of onshore in a safe and environmentally

approved manner. The PLGR vessel will use a DGPS positioning system. The route

followed by the PLGR will be as close as practicable to the selected Route Position List

and always within the swathe of the route survey.

Cable Installation on the Continental Shelf

5.24 The Main Lay vessel will pick up the end of the cable from the Inshore Section

at the 15 metre water depth and this will then be jointed to the main cable on board


the Main Lay Vessel. The jointing process takes approximately 18-24 hours to

complete including tests of the cable system. The Main Lay Vessel will then proceed

to deploy and bury the cable in the seabed using a sea-plough. The sea-plough is

towed by the Main Lay Vessel and is designed to bury the cable at a depth such that

the cable will be secure from fishing activities.

5.25 The plough uses a minimally invasive plough-share to create a furrow in the

seabed approximately 750mm in width. As the plough moves forward the cable is

placed in the bottom of the furrow which backfills with the natural movement of

sediment on the seafloor.

5.26 Typical ploughing speed is generally of the order of 0.5 knots and is dependent

on the stiffness of the seabed sediment. There is no significant noise generation during

ploughing operations. Cable installation by plough produces only a minor plume of

suspension of seabed sediments in the water column and this is transient and localised

due to the nature of the ploughing and natural backfill activities.

5.27 A sketch which illustrates the Main Lay cable installation is presented in Figure

29.

5.28 The target burial depth for the IRIS cable systems is 1.5 metres. In areas of stiff

soil, the actual burial depth may be reduced but is planned to be still at a depth which

will be protect the cable from fishing operations and not less than 0.7 to 0.9 metres.

Figure 29. Offshore Cable Installation and Plough Burial.


Post Lay Operations

5.29 Following main lay operations, post-lay inspection and burial may be carried

out in certain areas to inspect the proper laying and burial of the cable in the seabed.

A post-lay burial operation may be performed in order to supplement the burial

operations in the following instances:

Planned recoveries of the burial tool, e.g. ploughshare change locations

Initial and final splice positions within the buried sections – Post-Lay Inspection

and Burial is planned for the initial splice location between the Pre-Lay Shore

End and main lay section of the cable to 1.5 metre target burial depth

Unplanned recoveries due to burial tool breakdown, weather delay, etc.

Surface-laid sections due to sea-plough malfunction where the plough is not

brought back on board.

ROV Operations

5.30 In limited areas requiring Post-Lay burial, a separate Remotely Operated

Vehicle (ROV) is utilized. The ROV typically uses a jetting burial tool to bury the cable

to the required depth. The seabed is emulsified in the localised region of the burial

and a narrow trench is formed. The ROV burial system slowly moves along the seabed

on the required cable track cutting a trench into which the cable is placed. The seabed

sediment is displaced temporarily to form the trench during the burial operation and

then naturally allowed to re-form and ‘backfill’ the trench after the passage of the

ROV’s burial tool. It should be noted that the surrounding seawater is used for the

jetting system, i.e. nothing alien is introduced into the environment. The burial tool

does not remove any seabed materials from the area. The ROV burial operation is

controlled from the main vessel and monitored in real time using high definition video

cameras mounted on the ROV.


6.0 EXISTING SUBSEA INFRASTRUCTURE & MARINE ACTIVITIES.

Ports 6.1 The Port of Galway is a designated Tier 3 Port of Regional Significance and is

particularly important for bulk goods and petroleum product transport to the West of

Ireland. The number of shipping movements is relatively low as the port can only be

accessed through a sea lock at High tide. There is a major fishing and ferry port at

Rossaveal and there is also a ferry port at Doolin. The ferry ports at Rossaveal and

Doolin serve the Aran Islands.

Shipping Channel at Galway Port 6.2 The route is clear of the existing shipping channel which provides access for

Galway Port and it is also clear of the proposed extension/dredging of the shipping

channel. The planned cable route has been discussed and agreed with the Harbour

Master at Galway Port.

Subsea Pipelines 6.3 There are no subsea pipelines in the vicinity of the planned cable route within

the 12 Mile Limit.

Subsea Cables 6.4 There are no subsea cables in the vicinity of the planned cable route within the

12 Mile Limit.

Licence Blocks 6.5 There are no offshore Licence Blocks in the vicinity of the planned cable route

within the 12 Mile Limit.


Inshore Fisheries and Aquaculture 6.6 The pattern of commercial inshore fishing along the west coast to the north of

Galway Bay is shown in Figure 30. There are established fisheries in Galway Bay and

off the west coast of the Aran Islands and these will be traversed by the cable.

However, once the cable clears the 12 Mile Limit its course takes it clear of all other

inshore commercial fisheries.

Figure 30 Commercial Fisheries Inshore


6.7 Liaison has been established with Fishermen’s Organisations in Galway Bay

and the Aran Islands and this will continue for Main-Lay operations as to ensure that

any potential impacts on commercial fishing interests will be minimised and that those

interests will have adequate notice of the cable installation operations.

6.8 There are established aquaculture operations located along the south east

shoreline of Galway Bay, predominantly shellfish production such as oysters. (Figure

31) The cable route will not impact on aquaculture operations and is a minimum of

3.5km from the nearest site at Mweeloon Bay.

Irish EEZ Waters

6.9 The planned cable route traverses a substantial tract of seabed between the

12 Mile Limit and the EEZ boundary. Insofar as it may be of interest the following

material has been included in this Planning Report in the form of general information.

3.5km

Figure 31. Aquaculture in Galway Bay


Subsea Pipelines and Cables 6.10 The planned cable route lies over 60 kilometres west of the Corrib Gas

Field and will have no impact on the Offshore Installation facilities or on the pipeline

to shore.

6.11 The planned cable will cross a number of trans-Atlantic telecoms cables off the

Continental Shelf in Irish EEZ waters. The cables which will be crossed are AEC 1, the

Havfrue Spur, Hibernia-Segment A, Havfrue trans-Atlantic and the TAT-14 cable.

6.12 These cable crossings will all be in the deep waters of the Rockall Trough with

depths ranging from 2,800 m to 3,000 m. The precise locations of the individual

crossings may change locally to ensure that the IRIS cable will have adequate

separation from “Repeaters” on the respective existing cables.

Hydrocarbon Licence Blocks

6.13 There is a substantial number of Hydrocarbon Licence Blocks off the west and

coast of Ireland. These are shown in Figure 32 and it can be seen that the proposed

route does not impact on any of the designated Licence Blocks.


Figure 32 Licence Blocks off the west and northwest of Ireland

Fishing in Irish EEZ Waters

6.14 There are major fishing ports at Rossaveal and Killybegs together with a number

of local harbours from Keem in Achill to Rossport to the east of Erris Head. The fishing

activity off the west coast of Ireland can be seen in Figure 33. The fishing intensity in

seas north of Galway is relatively low and cable installation will have no significant

impact on this whether in the course of cable lay, which is a transient activity, or when

the cable is installed and buried in the sea-bed.


Figure 33. Commercial Fisheries Offshore.

Shipping

6.15 The pattern of shipping traffic off the west coast of Ireland is shown in Figure

33. This pattern is based on movements over a 12-month period and the level and

dispersed nature of the movements are such as not to be significant in terms of

conflict with cable installation. This was confirmed in course of the marine survey

when shipping movements were noted to be low and no conflicts arose. There are no

established offshore routes and no features such as separation zones. As shown in

Figure 34 there is an element of coastal traffic but fishing vessel traffic may account

for a significant portion of the shipping movements. The number of shipping

movements decrease significantly outside (west) of the coastal pattern


Figure 34 Shipping Traffic (AIS data, 2018)


7.0 NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

7.1 The installation of the cable in Galway Bay and through the South Sound will

be co-ordinated with the Harbour Master at Galway Port. The cable installation is a

transient activity and a continuous operation. The Main-Lay Vessel will move at a rate

of 0.5 to 1 Knot. Compliance with the requirements of the International Regulations

for Preventing Collisions at Sea will be followed at all times and it is expected that

there will be no impact on shipping movements in and out of Galway Port.

7.2 The route of the cable through the South Sound ensures that it does not cross

the ferry routes operating out of Rossaveal. In the case of the ferries operating out of

Doolin it is planned to have direct liaison between the Main-Lay Vessel and the Ferry

Companies while the Main-Lay Vessel is traversing the South Sound.

7.3 The intensity of shipping traffic along the West and North West coast is quite

low and the pattern of shipping movements is quite diverse. There are no

requirements for any special measures.

Mitigation of Navigation Risk

7.4 Key points relating to mitigation of Navigational Risk associated with the

installation of the IRIS subsea cable system inside the 12-mile limit are as follows:

Subsea cable installation will be performed by a single, purpose-built lay vessel

and will comply fully with all requirements of the International Regulations for

Preventing Collisions at Sea.

The vessel will lay cable on a 24 hour per day basis and a full operational crew

will be on duty at all times.

The plan is that the cable will be laid and plough-buried in a single operation.

Vessel speed during cable laying will be of the order of 0.5 to 1 knot.


Prior to commencement of cable installation, the Dept. of the Environment

Community and Local Government will be notified of the planned start and the

estimated completion dates for the operation.

The Harbour Master at Galway Port will be informed of the Plan of Work and

of the planned start and estimated completion dates for the operation.

The Coastguard will be notified of the Plan of Work and of the planned start

and estimated completion dates for the operation.

Representatives of the local fishing fleets will be contacted and made aware of

planned operations. Arrangements will be put in place to provide next-day

position forecast throughout the cable-installation period.

Arrangements will be made for the publication of a formal Marine Notice

through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the notice will

provide vessel and contact details together with a general description of

operations and approximate dates of commencement and completion.

A local marine notice giving vessel details together with a general description

of operations and approximate dates of commencement and completion will

be published.


8.0 MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY

8.1 There is a significant library of data available from various surveys in the

selected route corridor. These include the Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland, the Irish

National Seabed Survey (INSS) and the Infomar Survey. These are supplemented with

knowledge gained from the marine cable route surveys.

8.2 The data available from this material has formed the basis for a Marine

Archaeology Report which has been prepared by Geomara Ltd. A copy of the report

is presented in Appendix 3.

8.3 The non-Technical Summary of the Marine Archaeology Report is as follows;

“Geomara have previously completed a Marine Archaeological Assessment of the Marine Survey and Site Investigation works. Following analysis of the survey and site investigations along with regard to the archaeological assessment and Environmental assessments a final Route Position List has been developed. This final route is the subject of this report This assessment comprises an introduction to the study area; and the identification of cultural heritage sites, features and deposits located along the proposed cable route corridor. In order to provide a comprehensive assessment, an extensive desk-based study of the route corridor has been undertaken. The desk based study has been followed up by an extensive review of the geophysical and geotechnical data. The results of the archaeological screening of the proposed geotechnical locations along the route corridor also form part of the assessment. All of the geotechnical CPT and sampling logs and the subsequent reports have been reviewed and nothing of an archaeological nature was noted in any of the cores or samples analysed. Following a full review of all the bathymetric and geophysical data the bathymetric geophysical charts of the survey corridor were cross referenced with the magnetometer and sonar target data. Nothing of an archaeological nature was noted. All of the magnetometer and sonar contacts have been avoided by the preferred route. The known shipwreck sites in Galway Bay and the recorded cultural heritage sites on the coast at Galway Bay, the Islands and along the coast of Clarehighlight the intense human activity in the general area from earliest times up to the present day (Appendix 3 and 4). This activity has the potential to yield associated features finds or deposits and these may be disturbed during the cable system installations. As outlined in this report, the Galway City Storm Damage Survey (see table 5) identified ship timbers and an old quay which are present on Ballyloughane beach.


The following mitigation recommendations are presented in connection with the proposed cable installation:

The location of all of the proposed trial pits and probing on the beach and on the foreshore should avoid the seven sites and find spots noted during the storm damage mitigation report and detailed in this report.

All of the proposed trial pit excavations and probing on the beach and on the foreshore should be subject to full archaeological monitoring.

The Horizontal Directional Drilling, beach manhole excavations and the exit trench excavations on the beach should be monitored by a suitably qualified archaeologist.

The cable installation on the beach at Ballyloughane from the HDD exit out to the low water line should be subject to licenced archaeological monitoring. Note should be taken of the location of the metal detector targets close to the RPL and any related features avoided by the trenching activities.

Archaeological monitoring of the pre-lay grapnel run should be undertaken in order to identify any previously unrecorded features, finds or deposits.

All trenching / ploughing should be the subject of licenced archaeological monitoring.

It is recommended that procedures should be put in place to ensure that any previously unrecorded cultural heritage assets encountered during the project should be assessed by a suitably qualified archaeologist and avoided by any future works

Should the proposed preferred route be subject to further revision, details of these revisions should be forwarded to the project archaeologist for assessment

It is recommended that procedures should be put in place to ensure that any previously unrecorded cultural heritage assets encountered during the project should be assessed by a suitably qualified archaeologist and avoided by the cable laying operations.

On completion of the cable installation a report will be produced summarising all archaeological aspects of the project and submitted to DCHG and the National Museum of Ireland”


9.0 NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT

9.1 A Natura Impact Statement was prepared for the construction works and cable

installation activities. The assessment was carried out by Altemar Ltd and a copy of

the Statement is presented in full in Appendix 4.

9.2 The conclusion of the Natura Impact Statement is as follows;

“In conclusion, no significant impacts are likely on the features of interest or the site specific conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites as a result of the installation or operation of the cable, individually or in combination with other plans or projects. However, mitigation measures and construction phase controls are required and will be carried out in consultation with an ecologist and marine biologist. The proposed project will not adversely affect the integrity of Natura 2000 site.” “The proposed project will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site.”


10.0 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

10.1 An Ecological Impact Assessment was also carried out for the construction

works and cable installation activities. The assessment was prepared by Altemar Ltd

and a copy of the Assessment Report is presented in full in Appendix 5.

10.2 The conclusion of the assessment are as follows;

“Residual impacts are impacts that remain once mitigation has been implemented, or impacts that cannot be mitigated against. As previously outlined from the early stage of this project use of Best Available Techniques (BAT) have been used in the planning and implementation of the project as they “represent a key measure for avoiding environmental impacts” (OSPAR, 2012). This has included optimal site selection, methodologies of cable laying and phasing of the project outside key ecological times such as the over-wintering bird season in order to reduce the ecological impact of the project on, not only the designated sites at the landfall location, but also the additional habitats out to, and beyond the 12nm limit out to the Irish EEZ. The use of BAT will also help to ensure the longevity and stability of this important piece of infrastructure. Cable laying will be outside over-wintering bird season and will not be close to tern nesting sites, for which this site is designated as an SPA. Works will be carried out during harbour seal breeding season. The nearest breeding site is 1.2km from the cable survey route and an MMO will be present for all surveys and the cable laying. Works are not proposed in the majority of the sensitive habitats listed as features of interest of the Galway Bay Complex SAC. However, the cable does pass through mudflat/sandflat in the intertidal and the impacts in these areas are deemed to be minor adverse short-term. In the subtidal areas classed as Large Shallow Inlets and Bays, considerable lengths have been taken to avoid undocumented sensitive communities that were encountered during video surveys for the project, specifically carried out to assess habitats in the subtidal within the SAC. Impacts to these habitats are deemed at worst to be minor adverse short-term. However, despite the use of BAT in addition to the outlined mitigation measures, residual impacts will remain. The laying, operation and subsequent decommissioning of the cable, if required, will have no significant impact on the integrity of a conservation site or its site specific conservation objectives. Impacts are primarily related to short-term minor adverse impacts due to disturbance over the period of the HDD, 1 day cable burial on the beach and the ploughing by the vessel in the shallow subtidal (1-2 days in the SAC). Mitigation measures have been proposed to minimise/eliminate negative impacts on species or habitats of conservation importance.”

“No significant environmental impacts are likely in relation to the construction or operation

of the proposed development.”


Appendix 1 – Drawings.

FORESHORE LICENCE MAPS:

1334-A-201 Foreshore Map 1

1334-A-202 Foreshore Map 2 – Inshore

1334-A-203 Foreshore Map 3 - Offshore

1334-A-204 Overall Route Map

1334-A-205 Horizontal Directional Drill


Appendix 2 – Route Position List.

ID LATITUDE LONGITUDE

IRISH TRANSVERSE MERCATOR LENGTH

Route Length (KP)

Notes

Easting Northing

1 53° 16' 15.9909" N 9° 01' 06.4501" W 532065.854 725014.39 47.055 m --- IRL Beach Manhole

(BMH)

2 53° 16' 14.7535" N 9° 01' 07.9290" W 532037.909 724976.538 605.88 m 47.055 m

3 53° 16' 00.1781" N 9° 01' 29.7837" W 531626.52 724531.841 124.75 m 652.93 m

4 53° 15' 56.9808" N 9° 01' 33.8902" W 531549.01 724434.111 347.12 m 777.68 m

5 53° 15' 47.0352" N 9° 01' 42.5834" W 531383.499 724129.036 686.04 m 1.125 km

6 53° 15' 27.2928" N 9° 01' 59.4849" W 531061.472 723523.37 380.93 m 1.811 km

7 53° 15' 16.0436" N 9° 02' 07.8715" W 530901 723177.938 369.68 m 2.192 km

8 53° 15' 04.7074" N 9° 02' 14.2189" W 530778.266 722829.273 298.38 m 2.561 km

9 53° 14' 55.3950" N 9° 02' 18.4498" W 530695.658 722542.591 160.17 m 2.86 km

10 53° 14' 51.2975" N 9° 02' 23.7364" W 530595.816 722417.373 141.98 m 3.02 km

11 53° 14' 48.6832" N 9° 02' 30.0318" W 530477.934 722338.271 653.97 m 3.162 km

12 53° 14' 39.7274" N 9° 03' 01.9826" W 529881.548 722070.138 1.104 km 3.816 km

13 53° 14' 29.7745" N 9° 03' 59.1396" W 528817.297 721778.211 2.164 km 4.92 km

14 53° 13' 59.4371" N 9° 05' 44.3180" W 526852.85 720870.058 662.13 m 7.084 km

15 53° 13' 50.3217" N 9° 06' 16.6201" W 526249.48 720597.543 183.1 m 7.746 km

16 53° 13' 47.5929" N 9° 06' 25.3806" W 526085.706 720515.717 216.42 m 7.929 km

17 53° 13' 44.1558" N 9° 06' 35.5442" W 525895.567 720412.408 290.52 m 8.146 km

18 53° 13' 40.2106" N 9° 06' 49.7582" W 525630.054 720294.573 654.43 m 8.436 km Final Splice

19 53° 13' 31.3236" N 9° 07' 21.7758" W 525031.925 720029.187 4.371 km 9.091 km

20 53° 12' 42.5922" N 9° 11' 02.9114" W 520905.461 718589.213 949.61 m 13.462 km

21 53° 12' 34.9517" N 9° 11' 52.4726" W 519981.981 718368.383 10.361 km 14.411 km

22 53° 10' 18.8744" N 9° 20' 22.4504" W 510441.055 714330.615 967.86 m 24.772 km

23 53° 10' 01.3821" N 9° 21' 05.6621" W 509628.391 713805.089 918.8 m 25.74 km

24 53° 09' 37.0608" N 9° 21' 34.0881" W 509086.177 713063.422 9.376 km 26.659 km

25 53° 04' 48.2745" N 9° 24' 08.1208" W 506050.226 704193.582 1.866 km 36.035 km

26 53° 03' 52.2003" N 9° 24' 45.2282" W 505325.504 702474.17 1.764 km 37.901 km

27 53° 02' 58.2947" N 9° 25' 16.2579" W 504714.806 700819.64 1.785 km 39.665 km

28 53° 02' 10.3418" N 9° 26' 09.6014" W 503691.708 699357.463 1.792 km 41.449 km

29 53° 01' 29.5319" N 9° 27' 17.9286" W 502393.273 698121.908 785.63 m 43.242 km

30 53° 01' 15.4400" N 9° 27' 53.0046" W 501730.787 697699.711 675.29 m 44.027 km

31 53° 01' 06.0893" N 9° 28' 25.7444" W 501114.736 697423.231 740.08 m 44.703 km

32 53° 00' 54.4970" N 9° 29' 00.4796" W 500459.992 697078.326 957.76 m 45.443 km

33 53° 00' 50.4378" N 9° 29' 51.4104" W 499508.143 696972.607 1.647 km 46.4 km

34 53° 00' 58.5176" N 9° 31' 18.7416" W 497885.759 697256.576 2.303 km 48.048 km

35 53° 00' 59.8011" N 9° 33' 22.2697" W 495584.425 697345.651 4.232 km 50.351 km

36 53° 01' 46.3194" N 9° 36' 55.8060" W 491637.193 698871.265 3.17 km 54.583 km

37 53° 02' 40.3990" N 9° 39' 20.3360" W 488983.046 700603.966 1.891 km 57.753 km

38 53° 03' 25.3565" N 9° 40' 29.1595" W 487733.707 702023.107 940.93 m 59.643 km


ID LATITUDE LONGITUDE

IRISH TRANSVERSE MERCATOR LENGTH

Route Length (KP)

Notes

Easting Northing

39 53° 03' 40.9545" N 9° 41' 12.5447" W 486937.261 702524.089 768.44 m 60.584 km

40 53° 03' 48.2252" N 9° 41' 52.0046" W 486207.953 702766.131 1.535 km 61.353 km

41 53° 03' 43.5883" N 9° 43' 14.0955" W 484676.287 702659.282 2.033 km 62.888 km

42 53° 03' 58.1507" N 9° 45' 00.5660" W 482705.144 703157.313 3.518 km 64.921 km

43 53° 05' 01.6367" N 9° 47' 37.3715" W 479835.344 705191.431 3.132 km 68.439 km

44 53° 05' 29.5291" N 9° 50' 19.1498" W 476847.235 706129.713 1.808 km 71.571 km

45 53° 05' 55.0257" N 9° 51' 46.6040" W 475240.754 706959.679 6.447 km 73.379 km

46 53° 08' 08.1676" N 9° 56' 13.3899" W 470389.705 711205.799 1.524 km 79.826 km

47 53° 08' 25.5489" N 9° 57' 30.1198" W 468978.421 711781.731 3.988 km 81.35 km

48 53° 08' 27.9862" N 10° 01' 04.6226" W 464994.613 711967.757 4.917 km 85.338 km

49 53° 08' 36.1359" N 10° 05' 28.7920" W 460093.26 712360.505 3.639 km 90.255 km

50 53° 08' 38.9313" N 10° 08' 44.5103" W 456459.309 712554.524 1.098 km 93.894 km

51 53° 08' 26.2460" N 10° 09' 39.6969" W 455422.104 712193.376 1.274 km 94.992 km

52 53° 08' 08.6417" N 10° 10' 41.6428" W 454254.501 711684.262 4.899 km 96.266 km

53 53° 06' 12.8325" N 10° 13' 41.4295" W 450802.056 708208.437 832.59 m 101.16 km

54 53° 06' 05.4562" N 10° 14' 24.4694" W 449994.5 708005.471 5.83 km 102 km IRL 12nm Limit


Appendix 3 – Marine Archaeology Assessment Report.


Appendix 4– AA Screening and Natura Impact Statement.


Appendix 5 – Ecological Impact Assessment Report.

Documents

Farice IRIS Subsea Cable