TAP completes installation of eco-friendly structures on San Foca seabed to protect marine environment
Melendugno, Italy. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has recently completed the installation of eco-friendly structures in the waters of San Foca to hinder trawling in depth of below 50 meters, where such activity is prohibited.
This activity is part of the environmental mitigation action deriving from the analysis of the state of the seabed where the pipeline construction offshore works were carried out and aims to protect the underwater flora and fauna. The structures are built to enhance marine biodiversity by preventing illegal trawling and providing shelter to fish populations.
TAP carried out the activity in cooperation with the competent authorities and in compliance with the relevant authorisations. The materials used improve marine biodiversity, capture CO2 and have better structural performance than traditional concrete.
The shape of the structures and the patented materials provide shelter to many fish species. As a result, the structures enrich the underwater habitat and increase the abundance of fish, benefiting the fishermen of San Foca, with whom TAP has shared the details of the activity.
More specifically, the structures are laid in a large area of about 700 meters on each side composed of 20 anti-trawling stations made of bollards set in a pyramid shape. An additional section of a total size of 40x60 meters consisting of 20 stations has been created to monitor the fish fauna.
The structures-laying was carried out in the waters surrounding the exit point of TAP’s micro tunnel in San Foca, at a depth of 16-43 meters, where illegal trawling has impacted the natural Posidonia. In addition to the installation of the bollards and the related light stones mattresses performed by the main project vessel, a second boat was dedicated to environmental monitoring during the construction, followed and coordinated by the competent authorities.
This video describes the activity completed
About the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)
TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 877 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP’s exits in Greece and Albania, together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the wider European markets.
As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe’s energy security, supply diversification, as well as its decarbonisation objectives.
TAP’s shareholding is comprised of bp (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).
More about TAP: www.tap-ag.com | www.twitter.com/tap_pipeline