We have been told that the rescheduled repair is going ahead as planned. The shore team should begin work on Weds the 12th of November.
The cable laying vessel has left port and will hopefully join them before the end of the week.
The cable work is expected to take up to 10 days. It may take slightly longer for the work at the exchange to be completed, but we will keep you updated on progress.
This work does rely on getting the right weather windows, with 4-5 days of calm weather required. It may still be subject to change, but we’re keeping everything crossed.
Future Concerns
We are encouraged by how seriously the Scottish Government is now taking the question of digital resilience. Last week, Rhoda and Mark attended the Convention of the Highlands and Islands. It’s a regular meeting hosted by the Deputy First Minister and includes the heads of all public bodies in the Highlands and Islands.
We explained our situation, and the impact on Tiree, as well as the need to urgently review digital resilience and back up plans. Representatives from Shetland were also present and we appreciated being able to contribute to that discussion.
As part of our lobbying, we asked BT to answer some questions about the state of the cable more generally. This what they said.
Are BT planning to replace the entire section from the break to the shore landing?
- Yes. Engineers plan to replace the entire section from the break to the shore landing.
How far back towards Mull from the break are BT planning to survey for damage?
- This is subject to the survey and what is discovered during the repair work.
How much of the cable will be protected by additional armouring after the repair?
- Circa 1.2km of cable will be protected by additional armouring after the repair.
Do BT plan to survey other sections of the cable, in particular where it might be exposed to strong currents and where it comes ashore in Mull?
- No. Not as part of the repair work which is the immediate priority.
What ongoing monitoring do BT propose for the condition of the cable?
- Constant electrical monitoring of the cable system already takes place and we will continue to monitor vessel traffic that can damage cables.
What is the expected lifetime of the cable and what are the plans for replacing it?
- Cable design lifecycle is 25 years. However, based on experience we expect the cable to last beyond this planned period. Cable has already been installed for 11 years and only suffered 2 faults during this time.
