Resources

FRV Alba Na Mara 1812A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1812A
Cruise period2012-10-17 — 2012-10-23
StatusCompleted
Port of departureFraserburgh, United Kingdom
Port of returnFraserburgh, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

To determine what influences seabirds' diving behaviours in the high-energy environments favoured for tidal stream turbine installations.

Procedures

Loading of equipment will take place on 14 October. Personnel will join the vessel on the morning of 17 October and on completion of safety drills and vessel tours, Alba na Mara will sail and make passage to Deer Sound. On arrival the vessel will go to anchor in a suitable location and remain there while the EK60 is calibrated overnight (estimated to take in the region of four to six hours). On completion of this task and depending on the weather conditions, Alba will sail for the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Nursery Site in Shapinsay Sound, or to the EMEC Test Site in the Fall of Warness area (see Figure 3), to conduct an acoustic and visual seabird survey (details of transect positions and survey methods will be provided and discussed with the skipper and SIC before work commences). On completion of work in this area (estimated two and a half to three days), Alba will leave the Orkney sites and return to Fraserburgh for off loading on the morning of 23 October.

EMEC Risk Assessments have been completed and permission to enter both test sites has been applied for. Contact with EMEC will be maintained as required for the length of the survey.

If time permits, fishing with the PT154 pelagic trawl may be carried out in an area near to Shapinsay Sound and to the NW of the EMEC Test Site in the Fall of Warness, ensuring that no contact is made with any hardware installed on the seabed.

Normal contacts will be maintained with the Laboratory.
Chief scientistEric Armstrong (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectREO1q (20080)
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1812A cruise programme 1812a.pdf  (0.11 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificOrkney
Track chartsFRV Alba Na Mara 1812A cruise track — 1812atrk.pdf (0.10 MB)