Basslink’s cable repair vessel, the Ile de Re, is returning to Geelong having successfully completed the first of three jointing exercises.

Repair work on the Basslink cable continues to progress well, and the interconnector remains on track to return to service in June as previously advised.

Basslink has successfully pinpointed the fault location on the interconnector and removed it from the cable on Easter Sunday.

Since cutting the cable on Friday night (11 March), Basslink has now capped the cable and determined the fault to be located in the northern section.

Basslink can confirm that at the time of the outage on 20 December 2015, its interconnector was importing power into Tasmania.

Basslink has today announced that it has refined the probable fault location and would proceed to the next phase which involves cutting the cables.

Basslink  has  progressed  with  its  fault  location  phase  and  continues  to  work  around  the  clock to return  the interconnector  to  operational  status.

Work continues in Bass Strait with the Basslink team presently doing its best to narrow down the fault location on the cable.

Initial cable inspection did not reveal any obvious seabed disruption; Cable vessel sailing to Bass Strait after program of significant works in Geelong; Second phase of vessel activity expected to…

Media statement 140116