TAP Begins Albanian Seabed Survey

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) consortium has begun work on essential seabed and soil surveys in Albania, the consortium has announced.

TAP began the near-shore survey yesterday, north of Vlore in southeastern Albania. During the survey, TAP will collect samples of soil from the seabed along the route where TAP will the pipeline will be constructed.

TAP will carry out the work together with a sub-contracter, Italian engineering firm D’Appolonia. Two working barges will take the samples, with the first barge Isola di Lussino surveying the top layer of soil with a crane. The second barge, Skate IV, will collect deeper layers of soil with a jack-up platform, up to a depth of 20 metres. The soil taken from both barges will then be twice analysed, once in an offshore laboratory on a platform and then more intensively in an onshore laboratory.

The barges will work in the area for two to three weeks, and will be located between three to five kilometres from the shore. TAP says the activity will not pose any risk to the environment or to the safety of the residents onshore.

TAP's Country Manager for Albania Albert Haak said the work was being carried out to the highest international standards and that the company had acquired all the required permits for the activity.

"The comprehensive analysis of the seabed is necessary for TAP in order to decide on the exact offshore routing of the pipeline and also for further pipeline engineering work," he said.

This is the second seabed survey TAP has conducted in recent months. Last month, the consortium began work on a similar programme in San Foca, Italy in the Adriatic Sea.