Key offshore construction for the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) project has begun at Sandford Bay, near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.

Running from July through October, teams are installing two ducts using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), a specialist method for creating underground routes for subsea cables. A major milestone will be the HDD "punch-out", when the ducts emerge through the seabed offshore after being drilled from land.

The Diving Support Vessel 'C Horizon' is operating within Sandford Bay to support the offshore phase. Other vessels, including the survey vessel Northerly Explorer and crew transfer craft, are assisting the works. Temporary marker buoys are identifying key locations such as duct positions and moorings, and a wave rider buoy is also being deployed in the bay.

Diving teams are carrying out subsea inspections and installations to ensure the ducts are correctly positioned and prepared for cable installation at a later stage.

-- Advertisement --

All activities are being delivered under strict environmental controls. Specialist surveyors, marine crews and environmental teams are working together to minimise seabed disturbance, protect local marine habitats and ensure safe operations.

While onshore converter station construction and other land-based activity are more visible, the programme at Sandford Bay highlights the breadth of specialist marine expertise required to deliver a project of this scale. From HDD engineers and surveyors to divers, vessel crews and marine contractors, a wide range of skills is being brought together to build vital infrastructure on Scotland's north-east coast.

With energisation planned for 2029, the current offshore works off Peterhead mark another important step towards connecting Scotland's renewable energy resources to homes and businesses across Britain as part of the UK's largest electricity transmission project.

Lorraine Wallington, Lead Project Manager for EGL2, said: "What people see onshore is only part of the story. The work now taking place at Sandford Bay showcases some of the specialist marine engineering, diving and surveying expertise needed to deliver a project of EGL2's scale and connect more renewable electricity to homes and businesses across Britain."

John Woodfine, Senior Site Manager at Prysmian, said: "Delivering offshore construction responsibly means considering both the marine environment and the people who use it every day. Using Notices to Mariners, buoyed exclusion areas and open and ongoing communication we are helping to ensure safe navigation around the works while minimising impacts on marine activities. This collaborative approach is an important part of our commitment to delivering EGL2 safely, responsibly and with respect for the local marine community."