Work underway to repair power cable fault

Work to repair a fault with a power cable is currently being undertaken at Rackwick Bay, Hoy, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have confirmed.

A spokeswoman said: “Following a recent fault to one of the two electricity distribution cables connecting Orkney to the Scottish mainland, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) can confirm a repair is now underway in Rackwick Bay.

“Briggs Marine has been appointed to carry out the repair on behalf of SSEN, with the specialist repair vessel, Olympic Intervention, now in the water to install a new section of cable.

The spokeswoman has said it is expected that the repair will take up to two weeks to complete, subject to suitable weather and tidal conditions.

She said: “There continues to be no impact to customer power supplies on Orkney. Contingency measures are in place, including the limited operation of the backup power station at Kirkwall where required, to ensure a safe and secure supply of electricity to homes and businesses.

“As part of SSEN’s subsea cable inspection and replacement programme, a project to progress an end-to-end replacement of the Pentland Firth East cable is at an advanced stage of development, with cable installation and commissioning currently due to take place by summer 2020.”