3.4 Study Area

  1. A buffer of 10 nm has been applied around the site boundary, as shown in Figure 3.2, as the study area for shipping and navigation (hereafter the ‘shipping and navigation study area’). This is a standard buffer for shipping and navigation and has been used in the majority of NRAs for UK offshore wind farms. It also aligns with the approach detailed in the Array EIA Scoping Report (Ossian OWFL, 2023), and has been presented to key shipping and navigation stakeholders including at the Hazard Workshop (see section 4.3).
  2. The shipping and navigation study area has been defined in order to provide local context to the analysis of risks by capturing the relevant routes, vessel traffic movements and historical incident data within and in proximity to the site boundary. Navigational features deemed of relevance located wholly or partially outside the shipping and navigation study area are considered where appropriate, e.g. Seagreen 1 Offshore Wind Farm.
  3. Cumulative development screening and the associated routeing assessment has been undertaken within a 50 nm buffer of the Array perimeter.

A map of a race track Description automatically generated

Figure 3.2: Overview of Shipping and Navigation Study Area

4 Consultation

4.1 Key Stakeholders Consulted in the Navigational Risk Assessment Process

  1. Key shipping and navigation stakeholders have been consulted in the NRA process. The following stakeholders have been consulted via dedicated meetings and the Hazard Workshop for the Array:
  • MCA;
  • Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB);
  • UK CoS;
  • Forth Ports;
  • Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA);
  • Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA);
  • Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF);
  • RYA Scotland; and
  • Port of Aberdeen.
  1. As well as consulting with the organisations outlined in paragraph 28, Regular Operators were identified from 12 months of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data recorded during 2022 (see Appendix E) and were provided with an overview of the Array and offered the opportunity to provide comment (the full Regular Operator letter is presented in Appendix D). The full list of Regular Operators identified is provided below:
  • Atlantica Shipping;
  • Aurora Offshore;
  • Borealis Maritime;
  • Cebo;
  • DOF Group;
  • Döhle Group;
  • Eimskip;
  • ESVAGT;
  • Fednav;
  • Framar;
  • Gardline;
  • Glomar Offshore;
  • Golden Energy Offshore;
  • Havila Shipping;
  • HK Shipping Group;
  • Island Offshore;
  • JJ Ugland;
  • Langh Ship;
  • Linea Peninsular;
  • Longship;
  • Maersk Supply Service;
  • North Star;
  • Olympic;
  • OSM;
  • Reederei Gerd Ritscher;
  • Rem Offshore;
  • Samskip;
  • SCF Group;
  • Scotline;
  • Sentinel Marine;
  • Simon Møkster Shipping;
  • SMT Shipping;
  • Smyril Line;
  • Solstad Offshore;
  • Teekay;
  • Tidewater;
  • Troms Offshore;
  • Ultratug;
  • Viking Supply;
  • Vroon Group;
  • Wijnnebarends; and
  • Wilson Ship Management.

 

  1. Aurora Offshore, Scotline, Smyril Line, Tidewater and Wilson Ship Management provided direct feedback via email correspondence. Other operators did not respond.