(English version below) 

D'fhág an Claochladán 3MVA Cuan Ros an Mhíl thart ar 9am ar maidin.  Táthar ag súil leis ar Inis Oírr roimh 1pm inniu.

Tharla fabht ar Chábla Fomhuirí idir Oileáin Árann ag 4am Dé hAoine agus chlis ar an gcumhacht ar thrí Oileán Árainn dá bharr.  Bhí an chumhacht ar ais ar Inis Mór faoi am lóin Dé hAoine. Thángthas ar an bhfabht ar an gcábla fomhuirí idir Inis Mór agus Inis Meáin tráthnóna Dé hAoine. Tá an fabht lonnaithe 2 km ón gcladach in uisce domhan. Tógadh dhá Ghineadóir (meáchan iomlán 36 tona) chuig an Oileán Dé Sathairn (1.25 MW agus 1 MW). Tá Claochladán speisialta (3MVA agus meáchan 22 tona) de dhíth chun an Gineadóir a cheangal le Córas Leictreachais na nOileán. Fuarthas ceann sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus bhí sé réidh le tabhairt chuig an Oileán inné, ach níorbh fhéidir, mar gheall ar dhrochaimsir.   D'fhág an claochladán Ros an Mhíl thart ar 9am ar maidin agus táthar ag súil go dtiocfaidh sé i dtír ar Inis Oírr roimh 1pm. Tá go leor oibre le déanamh chun an Gineadóir agus na Claochladáin a chur ag obair arís ach táthar ag súil go mbeidh an chumhacht a thabhairt ar ais ar Inis Meáin agus ar Inis Oírr.

Nóta ar mhodhanna a d'fhéadfaí an Cábla Faoin Fharraige a dheisiú

An modh traidisiúnta chun cábla faoin bhfarraige a dheisiú ná an cábla a bhaint anuas chuig báirse nó long agus é a dheisiú ar dheic na loinge.  Sa chás seo, táthar ag súil go mbeifear in ann modh a cheap ESB International a úsáid. Baineann sé le fearas úrnua a úsáideadh chun Idirnascaire Moyle a dheisiú ar an láthair, ar ghrinneall na farraige.

Teastaíonn tumadóirí a bhfuil oiliúint chuí faighte acu chun an modh seo a úsáid. Innealtóirí de chuid ESB International a chuireann oiliúint orthu.

Tagann na tumadóirí oilte ar an gcuid lochtach den chábla trí ghnáthóg bhrúchóirithe a chuirtear timpeall ar an gcábla.  Bunaíodh an ghnáthóg ar an dearadh a bhíonn ag goradán ospidéil a thugann rochtain ar an gcábla trí phoill ar an taobh di. Cuirtear fuinneoga agus scátháin sa ghnáthóg freisin ionas go mbeidh radharc 360 céim ag na tumadóirí ar an gcábla. Bíonn soilse agus ceamaraí sa ghnáthóg, rud a chiallaíonn gur féidir maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar obair dheisiúcháin na dtumadóirí ó chábán rialaithe os cionn an uisce.

Fágann an bealach ar leith inar deisíodh an cábla faoin bhfarraige go bhfuil laghdú suntasach ann ó thaobh am agus costais de, i gcomparáid le gnáthmhodhanna deisithe cáblaí faoin bhfarraige.

Tabhair ar aird: Is nasc tarchuradóireachta cumhachta é Idirnascaire Moyle, a chorpraíonn dhá chábla saindeartha a bhfuil acmhainn acu arb ionann í agus 25% den bhuaicéileamh i dTuaisceart Éireann.

Re: Update on Aran Islands Cable fault

Monday, 8 August 2016 12.15 pm

The 3MVA Transformer left Rossaveal Harbour this morning around 9am. It is expected to arrive on Inis Oírr before 1pm today.

A fault on a Subsea Cable between the Aran Islands  occurred  at 4am on Friday resulting in the loss of power to all 3 Aran Islands. Power was restored to Inis Mór by lunchtime on Friday. The Fault was located on the subsea cable between Inis Mór and Inis Meáin on Friday evening. The fault is located 2 km from the shore in deep water. Two Generators (36 tonnes between them ) were  shipped to the Island on Saturday (1.25 MW and 1 MW). A special Transformer (3MVA and weighing 22 tonnes) is required to connect the Generator to the Island Electricity System this was sourced in the UK and was ready for transport to the Island yesterday, however due to sea conditions it was not possible to transport it to the Island. The transformer left Rossaveal this morning at around 9am and is expected to dock on Inis Oírr before 1pm. There is a lot of work to do to get the Generator and Transformers up and running but it is hoped to have power restored to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr by this evening.

Note on possible methods of repair of Subsea Cable

The traditional method of repairing a subsea cable would be to haul the cable onto a barge or ship and make the repair on the deck of the ship. In this case it is hope to be able to use a method first developed by ESB International. This device is a world first and was first used to successfully repair the Moyle Interconnector in situ on the sea bed.

The technique requires suitably trained divers to complete the task and these are trained by ESB International engineers.

The trained divers access the faulty part of the cable through a pressurised habitat, mounted around the cable. The habitat was based on the design of a hospital incubator giving access to the cable through holes in the side. Windows and mirrors are also fitted to give divers 360 degree views of the cable. Lights and cameras within the habitat means that supervision of divers’ repair work could take place from a surface control cabin.

This unique submarine cable repair results in a significant reduction in time and cost when compared to normal submarine cable repair techniques.

Note: The Moyle Interconnector is a power transmission link incorporating two specially designed submarine cables with a capacity equivalent to 25% of peak demand in Northern Ireland