Maine Aqua Ventus (MAV) and Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey (Alpine) will begin a subsea cable survey, on November 10 to survey the seabed between Port Clyde and the UMaine deepwater offshore wind test site at Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine, United States.
The MAV floating offshore wind turbine demonstration project requires a seabed survey of the cable route from the wind turbine array located approximately 4 kilometers south of Monhegan Island and running approximately 26 kilometers north to the Port Clyde area.
Alpine will carry out the survey, utilizing the R/V Shearwater and the M/V William M survey vessels.
The proposed cable and survey route follows an existing charted cable way selected to minimize any impact on fishermen and fishing activities. Other areas to be surveyed include: the test site 3.7 kilometers South of Monhegan Island and Upper Penobscot Bay.
A gear compensation program has been established in case of accidental fishing gear interference. The survey will determine the seafloor conditions where the cable may be placed, to help design the cable and determine the cable installation methods. It should provide a geophysical picture of the seabed contours in addition to interpreting the geology which exists along the cable route. The survey should also determine the archeological significance of any potential artifacts that may reside on or below the seabed so that they can be avoided and protected.
This survey’s results will help to inform the Maine State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the archeological significance of the seabed. The survey will be used to finalize permitting requirements for the installation of the transmission cable and identification of the turbine installation area, both designed to minimize impacts to the environment and the fishing community.