SEC VA MSIB 20-145 - Atlantic Ocean - Uncharted Offshore Structures and Cables - Update 2

MSIB Number: 20-145

June 2, 2020

Atlantic Ocean - Uncharted Structures and Cables - Update 2

This MSIB serves as an update to MSIB 20-132. Mariners are advised about newly installed uncharted structures off the Virginia Beach coastline: Two wind turbine foundations and two subsurface cables.

Turbine Foundations

The two foundations for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot program turbines have been installed. The two significant yellow structures are located approximately 25 nautical miles East of Cape Henry and display temporary amber lights, flashing with 4 second period. Each foundation consists of a 198 foot long, 24 foot diameter steel mono pile weighing 600 tons. The monopiles are hammered into the seabed and a yellow 350-ton Transition Piece is bolted on top at each position and towers 80 feet over the sea level. The foundations are named CV A01 and CV A02. Please refer to the linked CVOW turbine foundation flyer for more information and exact location. Construction activity will be continuing at that location.

Subsurface Cables

The first cable is the buried DUNANT fiber-optic submarine telecommunications cable and the second cable is the power transmission cable for the CVOW pilot program. 

For the first 16 nautical miles the newly laid cables run eastward from Virginia Beach and are located roughly parallel to the north and south of the two existing and currently charted cables "MAREA" and "BRUSA S1.“ - thereafter the CVOW cable veers off in to the northeast for the next 10 miles until it reaches the offshore construction sites for the two offshore wind turbines construction site approximately 25 nautical miles East of Cape Henry.

For specific information on these subsea cables and additional safety precautions, please refer to the linked CVOW cable safety flyer and DUNANT cable safety flyer.

Precautions

Mariners are requested to maintain a wide berth to the offshore wind farm construction site and the associated subsea cables when planning passages and anchorage in the area.

Vessels intending to anchor anywhere in the vicinity of the southern approach to Chesapeake Bay or the offshore wind farm construction site are requested to use caution and not anchor anchor within 1 nautical mile from cable and construction activities.

If you think you have snagged either of the cables, maintain your position and contact:

DUNANT: SubCom Cable Snag Hotline, +1 732-578-7474 (Press #3), Email: rrapp@subcom.com

CVOW: Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, +1 757-334-4578, Email: pedpe@orsted.dk 

This information will also be announced in the next Fifth Coast Guard District's Local Notice to Mariners. The structures and cables will be added to navigation charts in an upcoming update.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, contact United States Coast Guard Sector Virginia Waterways Management Division duty watch stander at (757) 374-3408 or virginiawaterways@uscg.mil.

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