Survey equipment lost in Yell Sound again
Communication was the issue and not the equipment itself, meeting hears
FOR THE second time in around four years a piece of marine survey equipment has been lost in the water in Yell Sound.
A magnetometer and around five metres of tow cable was lost on 20 May during surveys for SSEN’s Yell HVAC project – a scheme to install a new power cable between the island and the Shetland mainland to allow planned wind farms there to export power.
It comes after an ROV was lost in Yell Sound, also for SSEN survey work, in 2022.
Shetland Islands Council’s harbourmaster Ross Gordon said the real issue with the latest incident was that “no communication was made with the harbour” at the time.
Communication was also said to be “poor” during the incident in 2022.
A report to a meeting of the SIC’s harbour board on Thursday said the loss of the magnetometer occurred within the operating area of the Yell Sound ferry, however there was no impact on service.
Gordon described the magnetometer as an “expensive” piece of equipment, with strong tides said to have caught out the survey crew.
The report said the harbour authority was notified the following day by SSEN via a formal dropped object notification form.
It also said the survey vessel GeoSurveyor III had been arriving and departing Sella Ness without establishing contact with the Sullom Voe VTS (vessel traffic services).
After the equipment was dropped, the harbourmaster instructed the vessel to remain at Sella Ness until receipt of a satisfactory recovery plan and associated mitigations.
Gordon told Thursday’s meeting that it was “very disappointing” to have had two similar incidents, with similar communication issues.
He added that with more projects on the horizon “we would expect to be identified from the outset as a key stakeholder for any communication management plans”.
Gordon said this was made “very clear” to the company, which was said to be receptive of the message.
In response an SSEN Transmission spokesperson said the loss of equipment was reported in line with statutory requirements, but conceded there could have been earlier direct communication.
They said: “We are aware of an incident involving the loss of equipment during survey works in Yell Sound in May.
“This was reported to the relevant authorities in line with statutory requirements, and the object poses no risk to navigation.
“Our contractors have liaised with the harbourmaster and acknowledged that earlier direct communication regarding this incident would have been appropriate.
“We recognise the importance of clear and timely engagement with key stakeholders, and we will continue to work closely with the harbourmaster and Shetland Islands Council to support the safe delivery of survey activity.”
SSEN is also undertaking surveys on possible landfall sites for a new HVDC cable from the Scottish mainland to Shetland, with locations in Toft as well as near Mavis Grind and Eshaness among those being considered.
There are also offshore windfarms proposed to the east of the isles which are like to have cabling run ashore to Shetland, potentially into or near Yell Sound.
Meanwhile the harbour board meeting also heard there had been seven issues with tug winches in the Sullom Voe area since December 2024.
Gordon said the issue was an intermittent fault with the control system on the winch, which he described as a glitch.
He said it has been “very difficult” to identify the issue given the intermittent nature.
“It doesn’t persist long enough to be captured,” Gordon said.
He added that the issues caused no delay to operations, with the risk “minimal”.
The meeting heard that the SIC is making steps to investigate the matter further.
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