6.6 Maximum Design Scenario

  1. The MDS for each shipping and navigation impact is provided in Table 6.5 and is based on the parameters described in the previous subsections.

Table 6.5: Maximum Design Scenario by Impact for Shipping and Navigation

Potential Impacts

Phase

Maximum Design Scenario

Justification

Increased vessel to vessel collision risk resulting from displacement (third party to third party)

Construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • 500 m safety zones around structures where active construction works are ongoing, 50 m otherwise up until commissioning of the Array;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with up to 6 mooring lines each;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m;
  • construction phase up to 8 years; and
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables).

Largest possible extent of site boundary and structure size plus greatest duration resulting in the maximum effect on vessel displacement.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • 500 m safety zones around major maintenance works;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • wind turbine floating foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to three large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m; and
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables).

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables;
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections); and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Displacement from adverse weather routeing

All phases

As for ‘Increased vessel to vessel collision risk resulting from displacement (third party to third party)’ - see above.

Largest possible extent of site boundary and structure size plus greatest duration resulting in the maximum effect on vessel displacement from adverse weather routeing.

Increased vessel to vessel collision risk resulting from displacement (third party to Array vessels)

Site preparation and construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with up to 6 mooring lines each;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • construction phase up to 8 years;
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables); and
  • up to 7,902 vessel return trips during site preparation and construction phases.

Maximum number of project vessels and movements leading to largest collision risk.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m; and
  • up to 508 vessel trips per year for operation and maintenance.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables;
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections); and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Vessel to structure allision risk

Construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with up to 6 mooring lines each;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m; and
  • construction phase up to 8 years.

Largest possible extent of site boundary, greatest number of surface structures and maximum associate dimensions, plus greatest duration resulting in the maximum effect on vessel to structure allision risk.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m; and
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed; and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Reduced access to local ports and harbours

All phases

As for ‘Increased vessel to vessel collision risk resulting from displacement (third party to Array Vessels)’ - see above.

Maximum number of project vessels and movements leading to largest potential impact on port access.

Loss of station

Construction

  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m and smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m; and
  • construction phase up to 8 years.

Maximum number of wind turbines with greatest surface dimensions leading to largest loss of station risk.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines; and
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed; and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Reduction of underkeel clearance as a result of subsea infrastructure

Construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • 500 m safety zones around structures where active construction works are ongoing, 50 m otherwise up until commissioning of wind farm;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with 6 mooring lines each;
  • mooring line connection point 5 m below surface, angle of descent of 82 degrees from horizontal;
  • up to 3 large OSPs and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables);
  • dynamic inter-array cables with buoyancy modules;
  • maximum burial depth of 3 m, minimum target burial depth of 0.4 m subject to CBRA;
  • cable protection required for up to 20% of inter-array cables and up to 30% of interconnector cables;
  • maximum cable protection height of 3 m and width of 20 m for all subsea cables (excluding crossings);
  • up to 12 inter-array and 12 interconnector cable crossings, with a maximum height of 4 m; and
  • construction phase up to 8 years.

Maximum number of mooring lines, plus longest length of inter-array and interconnector cables.

Operation and maintenance

As for the construction phase.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables;
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections); and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Anchor interaction with subsea cables (including dynamic cabling)

Construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • 500 m safety zones around structures where active construction works are ongoing, 50 m otherwise up until commissioning of the Array;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • up to three large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • construction phase up to 8 years;
  • up to 1,497 km in total array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables);
  • dynamic inter-array cables with buoyancy modules; and
  • maximum burial depth of 3 m, minimum target burial depth of 0.4 m subject to CBRA.

Maximum length of inter-array and interconnector cables.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • 500 m safety zones around major maintenance works;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables);
  • dynamic inter array cables with buoyancy modules; and
  • maximum burial depth of 3 m, minimum target burial depth of 0.4 m subject to CBRA.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables;
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections); and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.

Anchor interaction with mooring lines

Construction

  • buoyed construction area around maximum extent of Array;
  • 500 m safety zones around structures where active construction works are ongoing, 50 m otherwise up until commissioning of wind farm;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with up to 6 mooring lines each;
  • mooring line connection point 5 m below surface, angle of descent of 82 degrees from horizontal;
  • mooring line radius up to 700 m; and
  • construction phase up to 8 years.

Maximum number of mooring lines.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • 500 m safety zones around major maintenance works;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines, with up to 6 mooring lines each;
  • mooring line connection point 5 m below surface, angle of descent of 82 degrees from horizontal;
  • mooring line radius up to 700 m; and
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables; and
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections).

Reduction in SAR Capability

Construction

  • 500 m safety zones around structures where active construction works are ongoing, 50 m otherwise up until commissioning of the Array;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89m;
  • smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37m;
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables);
  • up to 7,902 vessel return trips during site preparation and construction phases; and
  • construction phase up to 8 years.

Largest possible extent of site boundary, greatest number of vessel activities, greatest number of surface structures and greatest duration resulting in the maximum effect on emergency response capability.

Operation and maintenance

  • full build out of site boundary;
  • 500 m safety zones around major maintenance works;
  • up to 265 floating wind turbines;
  • floating wind turbine foundations, 130 m x 110 m;
  • up to 3 large OSPs, and 12 smaller satellite OSPs;
  • large OSP topside of 121 m x 89 m;
  • smaller satellite OSP topside of 41 m x 37 m;
  • operational lifespan of up to 35 years;
  • up to 1,497 km in total Array cable length (inter-array and interconnector cables); and
  • up to 508 vessel trips per year for the operation and maintenance phase.

Decommissioning

  • anticipated that all floating structures will be completely removed;
  • removal of mooring lines and dynamic cables;
  • inter-array and interconnector cables may be left in situ (other than dynamic sections); and
  • decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vessels and equipment.