XOCEAN has been awarded a contract to conduct a geophysical survey along part of the Western HVDC Link, the 2,200 MW subsea electricity connection between Hunterston in Scotland and the Wirral in England.
The offshore survey campaign is scheduled to begin on September 10 and is expected to continue for approximately two to four weeks, depending on weather conditions.
XOCEAN will deploy its X-05 and X-29 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to inspect approximately 127 kilometres of the Western Link HVDC cable system, covering the section from south of the Isle of Man to the cable landfall in the Wirral.
The main objective of the campaign is to monitor the condition and stability of the subsea cable and the surrounding seabed.
The survey will assess several important features along the cable route, including the depth and condition of cable burial, seabed mobility, rock protection, concrete mattresses, cable crossings and other seabed features identified during previous inspection campaigns.
Monitoring these areas is important for maintaining the long-term integrity of subsea power infrastructure, particularly in locations where seabed movement or changing environmental conditions could affect cable protection.
The two XOCEAN vessels will be equipped with multibeam echo sounders (MBES) and towed side-scan sonar (SSS) systems.
Multibeam echo sounders allow detailed mapping of seabed depth and topography, while side-scan sonar provides high-resolution acoustic imagery that can help identify objects, seabed features and changes around the cable route.
The use of uncrewed surface vessels allows offshore surveys to be carried out with significantly fewer personnel directly exposed to offshore operations. The technology can also reduce the size of the support infrastructure required for traditional survey vessels and potentially lower fuel consumption and emissions.
XOCEAN has increasingly deployed autonomous and remotely operated survey vessels for offshore wind, subsea cable and marine infrastructure projects around the world.
The Western HVDC Link is a major part of the United Kingdom's electricity transmission infrastructure. The high-voltage direct-current connection is designed to transfer up to 2,200 MW of electricity between Scotland and England.
Regular inspection of the subsea cable route helps operators identify changes in seabed conditions and potential risks before they develop into more serious problems.
The latest survey campaign highlights the growing role of uncrewed vessels in offshore inspection and subsea infrastructure monitoring, as the maritime and energy sectors continue to adopt remote and autonomous technologies for complex offshore operations.
