Massive scaffolding barge 'thing' in BC

Cardiffcruiser

Cardiffcruiser

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On Thursday I saw a massive cube like construction that looked like it was made of scaffolding off Rhoose in the middle of the BC. The upper half of it was painted yellow. I was driving so couldn't get a photo.

Yesterday I saw it again between the Holm's whilst sailing off Penarth. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone or camera with me. It appeared to be towed between two tugs.

Anyone know what it was?
 
Its a rig on passage from Belfast to Holland.The tugs werent powerfull enough so its in the BC awaiting better weather and bigger tugs. Its certainly not scaffolding .its a massive structure when you see it from closer.

PS info from the Harland and wolff site its bound for Bremerhaven.
 
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It is a structure designed to operate in an offshore windfarm in the North Sea, some sort of 'power hub'. Its visit to the BC was entirely unintentional and weather forced. Informed sources say at one stage there was extreme concern that it may founder in the BC.
 
The Bristol Channel seems to be getting overrun with these sorts of things. There was something that looked like an oil derrick off Hinkley Point (near the Gore SWM). Does anyone have any idea what it is? It certainly confused me as it isn't charted, does not appear in notices to mariners and looks semi-permanent. It definitely wasn't the tower about 0.2M north of Hinkley Point.
 
The thing off Hinkley point is a jack up barge called excalibur . Not sure exactly what its doing , have heard that its to do with possible new water intake for the powrestation but i dont know for sure.
 
Given the news that we are going to have Hinkley Point C, I spect it's a preliminary survey/seabed drilling for the intakes. Hmm, no planning consent required then ?
 
I read on the notice to mariners that survey work is being done off Oldbury power station. I have also read somewhere that EDF(I think) are doing something similar off Hinkley.
Allan
 
Been told it's a drilling rig no doubt testing to make sure they can put one of the 9 new nuclear power stations on our doorstep doesn't matter though parts of north wales still glow from Chernobyl,
 
From Severn VTS:
http://www.severnvts.co.uk/files/abp n2m6 2009.pdf

Notice to Mariners No. 6 2009 - Hinkley Point - Seabed Investigation for EDF

Commencing on or about the 6th
October 2009, for a period of up to 8 weeks, a jack-up platform, Excalibur,
will be drilling investigation boreholes in the Hinkley Point area, located approximately 8Nm East North East
from Watchet Harbour entrance and 5Nm West from Burnham-on-Sea. The exact boundaries of the site are
outlined in the attached location plan, FSCL2.

The jack-up will move regularly between all points within the above mentioned location plan and will be
operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The jack-up measures 60 metres in length by 32 metres in width. It has a 4.24 metre deep hull, coloured
orange and black. It is not self propelled and will be supported by a tug for manoeuvring.
Whilst floating and under tow it has limited manoeuvrability. The supporting tug is named the ‘DMS World’
please see attached specification sheet.
When jacked up the Excalibur will be marked and displaying lights and day symbols in accordance with an
Offshore Structure. A specification sheet for Excalibur is attached to this notice.

Mariners are requested to keep well clear and pass slowly, particularly when the craft is afloat and
manoeuvring.

A listening watch will be maintained on VHF maritime channels 16.
Excalibur’s call sign is YJXQ 5
 
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