Intertek Delivers Environmental Licensing Support for the Scotland to Northern Ireland Telecommunication Cable
March 08, 2021
Liphook, Hampshire, UK: Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has been appointed by Global Marine to deliver the permits, consents and environmental-supporting documentation for the Scotland - Northern Ireland submarine fibre optic cables installation. Intertek’s technical experts have worked extensively on marine environmental quality assurance solutions for subsea cable projects in the UK, Europe and internationally, where key services have included cable routing, constraints and feasibility studies, route engineering, survey management, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement.
Two of the existing BT cables crossing the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Scotland are reaching the end of their service lives and to ensure continued resilient connectivity and service, BT has contracted Global Marine to supply and install two new replacement fibre optic cables.
Intertek’s responsibilities included the production of the Marine Environmental Appraisal (MEA); oversight of specialist environmental studies, including intertidal surveys; Navigation Risk Assessment (NRA); marine archaeology reviews; and delivery of onshore consenting requirements through our partner, The Environment Partnership (TEP). Working under COVID-19 restrictions, Intertek also managed the online public consultation events and Storyboard production.
Eric Houston, Intertek Project Director, commented: “Intertek’s Energy & Water team brings a wealth of technical expertise and experience in the environmental assessment of marine cable projects. We are delighted to support Global Marine and BT with delivery of the marine licence and onshore permitting applications for this critical telecommunication cable infrastructure.”
Alex Riddell, Permitting Manager, Global Marine said: “We are pleased to be working together with the team at Intertek to deliver this phase of the Northern Ireland - Scotland Fibre Optic Cable installation project in readiness for installation work in 2021.”
Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services provide technical solutions to complex environmental and regulatory challenges throughout the project lifecycle for multiple sectors, including power transmission and renewables, oil and gas, water utility, and ports & harbours. We work as advisors and project managers for our clients through all stages of offshore development--from concept, feasibility and design, through construction and operation, to decommissioning. In doing so, we partner with developers, operators, asset owners, utilities, lenders and government.
Notes to Editors
The Global Marine Group (GMG) is a market leader in offshore engineering and is recognised as a high-quality, independent, strategic partner across multiple sectors. GMG consists of three business units: Global Marine, providing fibre optic cable solutions to the telecommunications and oil & gas markets; CWind, providing topside, splash zone and subsea engineering services to the offshore renewables and utilities market; and Global Offshore, delivering cable installation, repair and trenching services to the offshore renewables, utilities and oil & gas markets. For further information about Global Offshore you can visit www.globaloffshore.co.uk, or for information on the wider Global Marine Group, please visit: www.globalmarine.group/
BT Group is the UK’s leading telecommunications and network provider and a leading provider of global communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities in the UK include the provision of fixed voice, mobile, broadband and TV (including Sport) and a range of products and services over converged fixed and mobile networks to consumer, business and public sector customers. For further information about BT, you can visit https://www.bt.com/
For Technical Information
Please contact:
Eric Houston
E: eric.houston@intertek.com
For Market Information
Please contact:
Niki Schroeder
E: niki.schroeder@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers' operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.