‘Small things’ could win you £100
A GIANT electricity transformer is to be shipped by sea to a Gwynedd beach.
The equipment will be carried by the cargo barge the Terra Marique.
According to the Porthmadog Harbour Master’s report the ship will be anchored off Morfa Bychan before the transformer is unloaded onto the beach.
The load will be then taken by road to Trawsfynydd Substation, in the Eryri National Park.
Although it is not known exactly when the operation will happen, it is likely to be in June or July. A similar operation was carried out in September 2020. The unusual sight brought scores of spectators to the scene. Pictures from the scene (above) showed the scale of the operation, with cranes and heavy duty trucks required to remove the transformer from the vessel.
A 128-tonne machine was safely landed on to Black Rock Sands.
While the load was moved by road, rolling roadblocks were in place and motorists were warned to expect some disruption.
It was hoped delivery by sea would help “mitigate disruption” through Porthmadog Harbour.
After being unloaded, the transformer was stored on the beach for several days before being driven to Trawsfynydd Substation.
Malcolm Humphreys’ harbour master’s report for Cyngor Gwynedd’s Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee meeting on March 2 stated: “The service has received notification of a shipment of a large transformer for delivery to Trawsfynydd power station in a similar manner to the shipment that occurred on the September 16, 2020.
“The vessel undertaking the shipment is expected to undertake a beach landing at Morfa Bychan, in late June or early July 2023, when tidal conditions are optimal. The transformer will then be taken by road to the power station.”
It has not yet been confirmed if the National Grid is carrying out the latest operation.
A spokesperson for the organisation said any details would not be available until early next week.
AS part of its recent St David’s Day celebrations, Cyngor Gwynedd launched a competition under the Prosiect15 project to encourage people of all ages to create digital content on the theme ‘Y Pethau Bychain’ (The Small Things).
The aim is to collect a number of reels, videos and other similar genres that are shorter than 15 seconds long, to promote the main aim of Prosiect15 which is to discuss the big wide world, in Welsh.
There are three prizes worth £100 each to be won.
Councillor Craig ab Iago, the project’s founder said: “Every day we see innovative ac creative digital content as we browse our social media accounts.
“These reels and videos offer a new insight into the world around us.
“As a project we thought that it would be good to see a Welsh perspective also, in Welsh, alongside the other languages and cultures of the world.”
Prosiect 15 uses the number 15 as a base and theme for its activities and has already published a selection of 15 minute videos featuring a number of professional people discussing the connection between culture, different aspects of business, the environment and renewable energy.
These can be seen on the project’s YouTube channel.
This time however the call is for shorter, more punchy content to initiate the discussion.
Councillor Craig ab Iago added: “The competition is a light-hearted one but will still, we hope, make us all take a different view of the world around us and our place in it.
“So, get cracking and send us a your take of ‘Y Pethau Bychain’, the small things’.
More information about the competition can be found on Cyngor Gwynedd’s website: Cystadleuaeth y Pethau Bychain (llyw. cymru) Also by following Prosiect15 Twitter, Facebook, Instagram a TikTok