MacArtney vehicles for North Sea Link job

The first electricity link between the UK and Norway is to interconnect Nordic and British energy markets, the project involving among others equipment from Denmark-headquartered MacArtney Underwater Technology fitted on board a multipurpose supply vessel.

The purpose of the project is to construct the world’s longest interconnector consisting of approximately 720km of high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable to link the power grids of the United Kingdom and Norway. The giant interconnector designated NSL (North Sea Link) will link the two countries' electricity transmission systems via a subsea cable which links to a converter station and an electricity substation in each country.

The MacArtney vehicles are going to deliver high-resolution data for cable route design and engineering as well as subsea asset inspections applying the extensive sensor package.

The MacArtney scope of supply comprises two FOCUS 2 extended underwater vehicles, one MERMAC S20 winch with 2,000 m of double armoured, combined electrical and fibre optic tow cable, a FOCUS 2 topside control system, an EdgeTech 2200-MP side scan sonar, an Ethernet based camera system, and an EdgeTech DW-216 sub bottom profiler. In addition, multibeam echo sounder systems, combined iXblue PHINS and TRDI DVL INS systems, Valeport sound velocity sensors, Geomatrix G-882 magnetometers in a TVG frame setup, and transponders have been integrated into the vehicle.

Due to the extensive survey sensor package, the FOCUS vehicles are supplied in an ‘E’ (extended) version which allows for more space to install equipment within the vehicle frame. In addition, the system will be delivered with the newly upgraded MacArtney ROTV flight software.

Taking part in this ambitious project is extremely important to us, said Hans-Jørgen Hansen, Vice President of MacArtney Sales and Marketing. We anticipate that many initiatives will be taken in future to ensure joint goals for optimisation of climate-friendly technologies supporting the integration of more renewable wind and hydro-electric power into the various networks.

A privately owned corporation with group headquarters in Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark, MacArtney Underwater Technology has supplied products and engineering solutions for almost four decades.