Completely motionless for a month, this large ship intrigues the Bastiais who say everything and anything about it. It is actually a high-tech platform with a pocket submarine. Its mission is to repair the electric cable that connects Corsica to Italy
For a month, a strange ship remaining motionless off the city has intrigued many Bastiais to the highest point.
At anchor and making absolutely no noise, it creates a feeling of mystery because it never drifts despite the sea swell and is therefore in the same place since its arrival.
All the curious having used their binoculars affirm that there are a lot of people on board, a lot of heavy equipment, as well as a large crane and gantry cranes identical to those found on shipyards.
Comments as unusual as they are eccentric
It is obvious that faced with this real enigma, all the assumptions are going well.
And as in this period of general confinement where we do not see anyone, it is very difficult to obtain reliable information, everyone goes of course with their comments, from the most eccentric to the most unusual.
Thus, some of our fellow citizens do not hesitate to say that it is a boat that searches for oil in the Mediterranean and therefore carries out drilling in the heart of this specific area. According to them, the basti cove is indeed rich in … black gold.
Others, including politicians with a storefront, believe rather that the boat in question was chartered to carry out excavations and technical measures related to the construction of the future port of Carbonite.
The most worried, finally, who have to spend their day in front of their television broadcasting antenna-length news about the pandemic, believe that it is a ship in which are confined several passengers and foreign sailors victims of the coronavirus.
As they cannot land as a precautionary measure, they are therefore obliged to stay on board throughout their incubation period.
Information taken, all these statements are false.
“It is in fact a building flying the English flag which is called Cable Enterprise, officially specifies Frédéric Edeline, the commander of the commercial port of Bastia. After a series of locations, he returned to the area at the beginning of March and positioned himself just in front of the Arinella beach. If his deadlines are met, he should normally leave Bastia at the end of this week. “
International crew
According to this officer, whose common sense and seriousness can be praised, “It is not a ship in the literal sense of the term but rather a marine platform which is stabilized at sea by four engines located on its sides. This vessel measures 128 meters long and 30 meters wide. on board an international crew of around sixty people, including many highly qualified technicians. This platform is always accompanied by a tug to enable it to navigate and reach its home port located in Italy. “
This building belongs to an Italian company specializing in underwater works of this type. He was appointed by the companies EDF France and Terna Italy. This company, which has its headquarters in Rome, is currently the manager of the entire transalpine electric transport network.
The mission of Cable Enterprise is double. Firstly, he must repair the usual damaged direct current electric cable which is more than 150 meters deep to connect Haute-Corse to Italy. Secondly, it takes advantage of its position opposite Bastia to carry out studies relating to the future renewal of this network, initiated within the framework of the “Sacoi 3” project. This has been recognized as a project of common interest by the European Union.
Soon on a mission to Gilbratar
You should know that there is an identical cable connecting, from Bonifacio, Corse-du-Sud and Sardinia. These are networks which supply our region with electricity and which, in the near future, will therefore be replaced by the new “Sacoi 3” cables which the competent authorities are announcing much more efficient.
They will considerably strengthen the power supply in Corsica. Their entry into service is planned for the year 2025 at the latest. Note that out of a total envelope of 230 million euros specially dedicated to this “Sacoi 3” project, the cost of renewing these cable networks, at sea and on land, will amount to 140 million euros.
But for now, while waiting for the realization of this beautiful project, it is necessary to proceed with the repair of the initial cable unfortunately damaged.
For these large-scale works, the platform therefore benefits from ultra-sophisticated equipment and even from a remote and very sophisticated pocket submarine. It allows in particular to work at great depths in the best technological conditions and to reassemble on the platform all the parts of the damaged cable in order to repair or change them, if necessary.
So that’s the puzzle of the mystery boat solved. And for the anecdote, know that when he leaves Bastia, this building which is lit up every night like a Luna Park will join the Strait of Gilbratar for a new mission.
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