11 Base Case Vessel Routeing
11.1 Definition of a Main Commercial Route
- Main commercial routes within the shipping and navigation study area have been identified using the principles set out in MGN 654 (MCA, 2021). Vessel traffic data are assessed and vessels transiting at similar headings and locations are identified as a main route. To help identify main routes, vessel traffic data can also be interrogated to show vessels (by name and/or operator) that frequently transit those routes. The route width is then calculated using the 90th percentile rule from the median line of the potential shipping route as shown in Figure 11.1.
Figure 11.1: Illustration of Main Route Calculation
11.2 Pre Wind Farm Main Commercial Routes
- A total of 11 main commercial routes were identified from 12 months of AIS data recorded during 2022 (see Appendix E) within the shipping and navigation study area. These main commercial routes and corresponding 90th percentiles within the shipping and navigation study area are shown relative to the site boundary in Figure 11.2. Following this, a description of each route is provided in Table 11.1, including the average number of vessels per day, start and end locations and main vessel types. It is noted that the start and end locations are based on the most common destinations transmitted via AIS by vessels on those routes.
Figure 11.2: Main Commercial Routes Within the Shipping and Navigation Study Area (Pre Wind Farm)
Table 11.1 Descriptions of Main Commercial Routes Within the Shipping and Navigation Study Area
Route Number | Average Vessels per Week | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | 16 - 17 | Aberdeen (UK) - various oil and gas infrastructure. Primarily undertaken by oil and gas vessels. |
2 | 10 | The Faroe Islands or Iceland – Rotterdam (Netherlands). Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels |
3 | 7 | Aberdeen - various oil and gas infrastructure. Primarily undertaken by oil and gas vessels. |
4 | 6 | Various Icelandic ports - Rotterdam. Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels. |
5 | 2 – 3 | Immingham (UK)/Rotterdam – Glensanda (UK). Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels with a notable proportion of tankers. |
6 | 2 | Aberdeen - various oil and gas infrastructure. Primarily undertaken by oil and gas vessels. |
7 | 1 – 2 | Rotterdam - various ports. Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels. |
8 | 1 – 2 | Aberdeen – various ports. Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels. |
9 | 1 – 2 | Montrose (UK) - various oil and gas infrastructure. Primarily undertaken by oil and gas vessels. |
10 | 1 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) – Glensanda. Primarily undertaken by cargo vessels. |
11 | < 1 | Montrose - various oil and gas infrastructure. Primarily undertaken by oil and gas vessels. |