Two catamaran work-boats berthed at Gills Harbour this week with the trans-Pentlnd ferry MV Alfred, also a catamaran, in the background.
The larger workboat is MPC Athenia which was being used as a floating base or ROVs - remote underwater vessels, for detailed inspections on the three turbines operating at the MeyGen demonstration subsea site one and a half miles off Gills Harbour.
An Andrtiz 1.5 MW turbine was restored to its position late last month after a prolonged overhaul and maintenance spell in the Global Energy's site at Nigg on the Cromarty Firth.
The second workboat was backing up he survey inspection of he MeyGen site area , including he seaward end of recently installed underwater connection cable 'hub' taking the generated electricity ashore to the local 'reception building at Ness of Quoys,. This low headland on Gills Bay lies on the shores of the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound, close to medieval-origin Canisbay Kirk.
Recently the Government announced that it hd awarded a 'contract for difference' to Simec Atlantis Energy, the Edinburgh-based firm behind the MeyGen site. This could see a further 28 MW of generating capacity, in addition to the 6MW installed there using four specially-designed turbines, originally installed on the 30 metre deep seabed in 2017. The company hopes to have the upgraded facilities in operation by 2027/8.
Despite progress being slower than was initially expected, MeyGen remains the world's largest tidal-stream power-station.
The MPL Athenia belong to Roving Eye Enterprises Ltd, of Orphir, on he shores of Scapa Flow, Orkney.
The vessels were active on those subsea surveying duties for four days in mid-October, 2022.
PHOTO
Billy Magee. Lower Gills , Canisbay, the Emeritus office-bearer of Gills Harbour Ltd.
