Mariners Draft (fisheries email add)

RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES ABOUT SURVEY VESSEL OPERATIONS HERE

Fisheries Communication Plan

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is actively working with the fishing community – both commercial and recreational – to understand their concerns and create a development plan with as little impact on fishing as possible. Our team aims to find a balance in the shared use of our ocean by seeking to understand and mitigate any potential effects our activities may have on the environment, wildlife, and industries that fuel our local economies. Our fisheries communication plan outlines ways fishermen can communicate concerns to our development team and methods Atlantic Shores will utilize to keep the fishermen informed and educated about our projects.

Fisheries Communications Plan - Lease Area OCS-A 0499  

Fisheries Communications Plan - Lease Area OCS-A 0541  

Active Survey Vessels - Week of February 6th, 2023

The following survey vessels will be surveying within the Atlantic Shores' lease areas (see detailed vessel information in the tables below):

• Fugro Enterprise
• HOS Browning

If needed, the preferred method of contacting these vessels is on VHF Channel 16, followed by switching to a working channel for further communication.

The M/V Fugro Enterprise, call sign WDD9388, will be conducting survey operations, using sensors towed approximately 150 meters behind the survey vessel. Operations will occur within Lease 0541 area and will continue until approximately June 1, 2023. Operating area Lease 0541 corridor is located about 46 miles off the New Jersey coast, between Sandy Hook and Brigantine bounded by the following approximate positions: NW extent: 39° 30’ 14”N / 73° 40’ 10”W NE extent: 39° 30' 05"N / 73° 25' 46"W SW extent: 39° 10' 30"N / 73° 40' 35"W SE extent: 39° 10' 19"N / 73° 26' 11"W. The M/V Fugro Enterprise will be restricted in her ability to maneuver and is requesting mariners operating in or transiting the area to give a 1 NM CPA. The M/V Fugro Enterprise will be monitoring VHF channel 16 and can be contacted on these frequencies for safe passing arrangements. Chart 12326, 12323.

*Please note that the Fugro Enterprise will have limited maneuverability and will have up to 500 meters/yards of towed equipment behind the vessel.

The HOS Browning, CALL SIGN XCBK8, will be conducting geotechnical survey operations, using a mobilized marine drill rig and seabed frame, continuing to approximately April 2023.  The survey is located about 16 miles (30km) off the New Jersey coast, between Barnegat Light and Atlantic City bounded by the following approximate positions: NE Corner: 39° 40’ 22”N / 73° 56’ 11”W, SE Corner: 39° 15' 43"N / 73° 56' 34"W, S Corner: 39° 08' 40"N / 74° 05' 50"W, SW Corner: 39° 16' 31"N / 74° 14' 55"W, NW Corner: 39° 35' 14"N / 74° 02' 59"W

*Please note that The HOS Browning will be restricted in her ability to maneuver and is requesting mariners operating in or transiting the area to give a 1 NM CPA. The HOS Browning will be monitoring VHF channel 16 and can be contacted on these frequencies for safe passing arrangements. Chart 12323, 12318.

Fugro Enterprise

HOS Browning

Our Survey Activities

Survey activities are a critical first step in understanding and characterizing the seabed conditions within Atlantic Shores’ 183,000-acre Lease Area. The data obtained provides important seabed conditions and marine habitat data that helps inform future project siting and engineering activities.

Data collected during our 2019 survey efforts supported the selection of locations for the deployment of two data collection buoys within the Lease Area. The data collection buoys, which will be deployed upon SAP approval, help us to measure wind, ocean and weather conditions in order to inform the best development strategy for future turbines. We look forward to consulting with the maritime community as we continue to plan the wind farm’s design and installation. Buoy locations will be shared with all mariners upon deployment.

(Photos courtesy of Fugro)

Track Our Vessels

Atlantic Shores’ 2022 geophysical and geotechnical (G&G) campaign is underway, our next phase in a multi-year investigation of seabed conditions in our lease areas and cable corridors to support project engineering. Over 85 US personnel and 6 survey vessels are engaged in the campaign, including 3 NJ-owned and operated vessels, the Alpine Shearwater, Bella Marie, and Yeti.  The primary survey contractor – Fugro US - established a multi-year base of operations in Elizabeth, NJ for their geophysical and geotechnical vessels, including those servicing Atlantic Shores. Additional geophysical vessel support for Atlantic Shores operates from Atlantic City, NJ.

Marine Survey Operations

March 19

Fugro’s Enterprise (LOA: 52 m, Call Sign: WDD9388) vessel will conduct survey operations within the Atlantic Shores Lease Area and along potential Export Cable Corridors towards Atlantic City and Manasquan.

April 15

The Tidewater Regulus (LOA: 82.6m, Call Sign: WDG8927) is a multiservice offshore support vessel that will mobilize to conduct geotechnical borings and seabed PCPTs for investigation of the Atlantic Shores lease area for soil characterization.

May 15

Alpine Shearwater ((LOA: 33.5m, Call Sign: WDF5838) will mobilize to conduct geotechnical vibracores along the potential export cable routes for soil characterization.

June 1

The Northstar Commander (LOA: 73.2m, Call Sign: WDG5396) will mobilize to conduct seabed PCPTs along the potential export cable routes and in the
lease area for soil characterization.

June 14

The three-legged lift boat Laredo Brazos (LOA:44.2m, Call Sign: WDG9589) will mobilize to perform geotechnical boreholes for the potential export cable route land fall areas.

The Lease Area is located about 9 to 20 miles off the New Jersey coast, between Barnegat Light and Atlantic City in water depths ranging from 60 to 100 feet (10–17 fathoms). The maneuverability of all survey vessels will be restricted. It is important that mariners maintain a safe distance of at least 2 kilometers (1.0 nautical miles) from each vessel.  Survey operations will be conducted 24/7, weather permitting. They are expected to conclude on or about August 14, 2020, but may run longer as weather and operational conditions dictate.

Click here for the Notice to Mariners

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and our contractors will make every attempt to avoid damaging fishing gear in our lease area during surveys, construction, and operations.  In the event a fisherman experiences gear loss or damage believed to be caused by or the result of Atlantic Shores' activities, please complete the Atlantic Shores Fishing Gear Loss Form.

By filling out the information below you will receive email updates about survey vessel operations taking place in the Atlantic Shores Lease Areas. We will be providing many different pieces of information within our bulletins, including:

• Lease Area locations (including maps)
• Survey vessel descriptions (project details, vessel information, contact information, location, etc.)
• Other miscellaneous updates & more!

We look forward to connecting with you on a consistent basis and keeping you updated on our survey operations”