Boats off Sizewell?

[curtius]

Made a run up and back from The Deben to Southwold this week and spotted 3 large boats sitting off Sizewell. The larger one appeared to be some sort of cable layer and the others a couple of accompanying tugs. Passed close to one of the tugs but there appeared to be no one on board! Puzzled as to what they were and what they were doing?

 

[sailorman]

check out an ais site that might tell you what they are

 

[greylag]

check out an ais site that might tell you what they are

Easier to answer the question is it not.

Cable layer bringing extension lead ashore from windfarm in short, plus attendant vessels.

 

[Ali-alshira]

When we went past a few days ago, another yacht passing close to them was called on VHF and told that they had a 1000m cable, or something and to keep well clear. There seemed to be two tugs and the large ship you mentioned. I can't remember which one made the call.

 

[curtius]

Thanks guys, just interested.

 

[Andy61]

Here's another interesting aspect. Wouldn't you expect the Coastguard to know about this? Earlier today (I suppose about 14.00hrs 3/9/16) there was a Pan Pan message broadcast by Humber Coastguard to the effect that there was vessel emitting black smoke off Sizewell. Could any vessel in the vicinity assist in reporting the circs. The radio op sounded like a trainee, so I supose it could have been a training exercise for the operator. Later there was a cancellation of the Pan Pan but I didn't catch any responses given on CH 16.

 

[curtius]

When we went past a few days ago, another yacht passing close to them was called on VHF and told that they had a 1000m cable, or something and to keep well clear. There seemed to be two tugs and the large ship you mentioned. I can't remember which one made the call.

We noticed a number of lines coming from the bow and stern of the large ship at a very shallow angle so gave it a wide berth.

 

[Cantata]

Here's another interesting aspect. Wouldn't you expect the Coastguard to know about this? Earlier today (I suppose about 14.00hrs 3/9/16) there was a Pan Pan message broadcast by Humber Coastguard to the effect that there was vessel emitting black smoke off Sizewell. Could any vessel in the vicinity assist in reporting the circs. The radio op sounded like a trainee, so I supose it could have been a training exercise for the operator. Later there was a cancellation of the Pan Pan but I didn't catch any responses given on CH 16.

Normally when work of that sort is going on, the skipper in charge of the vessel(s) involved would report to the CG to tell them about it. I would guess that in this case, it hadn't been done, and that some well-meaning person on shore reported the smoke. Had the CG known about the work they should have made the connection and called up the vessels first to check the smoke source.

 

[dogleg]

Normally when work of that sort is going on, the skipper in charge of the vessel(s) involved would report to the CG to tell them about it. I would guess that in this case, it hadn't been done, and that some well-meaning person on shore reported the smoke. Had the CG known about the work they should have made the connection and called up the vessels first to check the smoke source.

Humber CG did speak to the cable layer before the pan broadcast, smoke was reported from the shore by MOP, there was some communication between CG and cable layer concerning a yacht to the north

 

[Cantata]

Sounds as though everything happened exactly as it should, then!