Marine survey services

Tender description

This procurement has been completed: EirGrid have identified a requirement to procure a marine survey contractor to carry out high-quality estuarine geophysical, geotechnical and benthic marine surveys in the Shannon Estuary between Moneypoint in County Clare and Kilpaddoge in County Kerry along with associated reporting. The approximate length of the estuary crossings which are the subject of this survey is 3 kilometres.The seabed/estuary bed survey programme will be undertaken in order to enable optimal cable engineering of a route viable for installation. The survey will comprise of the following activities: — Marine Geophysical Surveys (Autumn 2017), — Marine Geotechnical Sampling and Laboratory Tests (Autumn 2017 following completion of the Marine Geophysical Surveys), — Benthic Survey (Autumn 2017 Maybe required). Please see the Information Memorandum and Pre Qualification Questionnaire attached to the eTenders notice for full details. High levels of renewable generation are currently being integrated into the transmission and distribution systems in the South and West of Ireland. At times of high wind generation output, it is expected that wind generation will displace conventional generation on the system in order of economic merit, while respecting operational constraints. As a consequence of this, at times of high wind, large bulk power flows are expected to flow from the West and Southwest towards the large load centres on the East coast. A system reinforcement is required to facilitate these projected power flows, as well as to resolve other network issues including voltage collapse, large phase angles and thermal issues. Part of the system reinforcement required includes the development of the Moneypoint — Kilpaddoge 400 kV circuit. This will involve the installation of an additional cross Shannon cable at 400kV between the existing substations at Moneypoint Co. Clare and Kilpaddoge Co. Kerry, as well as the installation of a new 400/220 kV transformer at Kilpaddoge substation. EirGrid have identified a requirement to procure a marine survey contractor to carry out high-quality estuarine geophysical, geotechnical and benthic marine surveys in the Shannon Estuary between Moneypoint in County Clare and Kilpaddoge in County Kerry along with associated reporting. The approximate length of the estuary crossings which are the subject of this survey is 3 kilometres.The seabed/estuary bed survey programme will be undertaken in order to enable optimal cable engineering of a route viable for installation. The survey will comprise of the following activities: — Marine Geophysical Surveys (Autumn 2017), — Marine Geotechnical Sampling and Laboratory Tests (Autumn 2017 following completion of the Marine Geophysical Surveys), — Benthic Survey (Autumn 2017 Maybe required). Please see the Information Memorandum and Pre Qualification Questionnaire attached to the eTenders notice for full details.