Minister Rabbitte sails onboard SMS Ocean Cat to visit work on the East West Interconnector

The energy infrastructure project, connecting the Irish electricity grid and Great Britain advanced significantly in October 2011 as work began to lay cables under the sea bed of the Irish Sea. The €600m East West Interconnector project is being developed by EirGrid. The Interconnector is essential strategic economic infrastructure linking Ireland to the much larger energy markets of Britain and Europe.

With most of the underground cables now laid, the cable-laying ship the Nostag 10 anchored itself at North Beach, Rush Co. Dublin to lay the marine cables of the €600 million project.

As the cable laying got underway, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD was onboard the projects main support vessel SMS Ocean Cat to observe this key milestone for the project with just one year to completion when trading will commence on this interconnector.

Commenting on the project, Minister Rabbitte said, “The interconnector will improve security of supply, as well as increasing competition and assisting in achieving our ambitious renewable targets. I am delighted that EirGrid are on track to complete the project within budget and on time, by the end of next year.”

                                                        Minister Pat Rabbitte onboard SMS Ocean Cat and along with crewmen Sean Harley & Paddy Byrne