Survey Other Start

A Notice to Mariners (No. 07-26, Revision 3) for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm confirms the start of an underwater noise monitoring campaign using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) moorings. The notice explains that PAM moorings for underwater noise monitoring are to be deployed within the Inch Cape offshore wind farm site and at two additional locations in the vicinity of the wind farm area. According to the document, these deployments were expected to have commenced on 19 March 2026, marking the start of the monitoring survey activity. The notice is dated 15 April 2026, by which time the listed moorings are recorded with the status “Deployed”, corroborating that the campaign is underway. The activity involves a total of eight PAM moorings within the wind farm site, which are to remain in place for approximately 7–14 days before being recovered and redeployed at different locations within the site for a further 7–14 days. In addition, two further PAM moorings are deployed outside the wind farm site for 14–30 days. The moorings are not surface marked, with their tops extending approximately 4–7 metres above the seabed. This monitoring campaign is part of the broader construction and commissioning phase of the Inch Cape development, during which rolling safety zones are in force around construction activities. The initiation of this PAM deployment on or around 19 March 2026 therefore represents the formal start of this specific environmental and underwater noise survey campaign at the project site.