Crossing the Strait of Belle Isle

Abstract

The Strait of Belle Isle is the body of water separating the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and the Southeast Coast of Labrador. The Strait has a strong current dominantly along the Labrador coast line, this current is known carry several icebergs and pack ice from the North Atlantic to the Bay of Fundy. The strait has a maximum depth of roughly 100 meters, and the seafloor has little overburden and in other areas none, leaving only bedrock at the surface. Newfoundland and Labrador are currently developing the Lower Churchill Project, which once finished will generate 2600 megawatts of hydroelectricity. The plan for this project is to transfer power to the island portion of the province to replace current out dated power generation plants. However, the main issue with transferring the power is crossing the Strait of Belle Isle. The Strait at its thinnest point is only 17 kilometres wide, but the harsh sea conditions and rough terrain of the Strait provide several obstacles. In an effort to determine the best method of construction for an electrical conduit across the Strait of Belle Isle, research into previous conduit crossings projects was conducted. The main projects that were reviewed were the NorNed Project and the Kii Channel Project. Utilizing the lessons learned from these case studies, the SOBI can determine the proper equipment, methods of protecting the cable, and appropriate risks.