Seabed Survey – 2010

A comprehensive offshore survey was successfully completed during 2010 in order to review the seabed topography and soil conditions between the coast and the offshore gasfields and to conduct a marine environmental base line study. The information gathered during the survey will be used to assist in routing and positioning studies for possible new offshore works for gas storage and to provide data for the preparation of an EIS.

The survey was undertaken using the Marine Institute’s research vessel ’Celtic Explorer’, along with a smaller vessel the ’Rebecca C’ operated by Cork based Irish Hydrodata.

To monitor cetacean activity in the survey area, both the ‘Celtic Explorer’ and the ’Rebecca C’ had a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) present on board at all times – the attached pictures give some idea of the species observed during the survey Click here to see them.

OTHER ACTIVITIES – 2011

Some onshore and offshore survey activity and data gathering will continue at a low level through 2011, to support possible future gas storage development:

- Ecological survey/walkovers of onshore facility and surrounding areas will continue on an intermittent basis

- Site Investigation – Inch Beach: a program of geotechnical site investigation works on Inch Beach was completed during Spring 2011 ; this consisted of boreholes, trial pits and soil sampling. Analysis of the data obtained is ongoing.

- Marine Mammal Observation: a number of acoustic recorders have been deployed to collect further data on cetacean activity in the area. This work is being done in conjunction with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG)