PORTSMOUTH — SouthCoast Wind will conduct localized geophysical and geotechnical survey operations in state waters of Rhode Island and Massachusetts starting around Tuesday, Nov. 19, and ending Jan. 31, 2025.

The planned survey areas are in the vicinity of Boyds Lane and Montaup Country Club in Portsmouth, and Brayton Point in Somerset.

The 32-foot survey vessel, Jim Cole, will conduct shallow water geophysical surveys utilizing towed survey gear. A spud barge and crew boats operated by Diligent Marine will conduct geotechnical boreholes. 

Operations will be conducted during daylight only, and the crew will continuously monitor VHF-FM Channels 13 and 16.

Mariners are asked to minimize wake, maintain a safe passing distance to the survey vessels, and transit the area with caution.

SouthCoast Wind is developing an offshore lease area — more than 30 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 20 miles south of Nantucket — that the company says will have the potential to generate over 2,400 megawatts (MW) of clean renewable electricity, or about enough to power over a million homes.

The proposed cable route runs through federal and Massachusetts state waters, Rhode Island’s Sakonnet River, across a portion of Portsmouth, and into Mt. Hope Bay. From there it would travel up the Lee River and enter Brayton Point in Somerset, lose to the location of its planned converter station and electric grid connection.

For more information or comments, contact SouthCoast Wind’s fisheries manager, Sam Asci, at 857/260-4116 or samuel.asci@southcoastwind.com, or visit southcoastwind.com/mariners for further project updates.