3. Emergency Procedures

3.1. Loss of Aids to Navigation

3.1.1. Marine Aids to Navigation

  1. Upon discovery of the loss of an AtoN which includes marine navigation lights, fog signals or buoys (or part thereof), the protocol illustrated in Figure 3.1   Open ▸ shall be initiated.

Figure 3.1:
Protocol for the Loss of an Aid to Navigation

Figure 3.1: Protocol for the Loss of an Aid to Navigation

  1. A requirement of AtoN management within Scottish waters is to report navigational failures to the NLB. This is done through the NLB online reporting system (see section 2.4). This is an online database administrated by NLB in order to assist wind farm operators (as the local authority for the wind farm AtoN) to fulfil their responsibility to maintain records of AtoN availability and to provide summaries of these to NLB. This should be undertaken by the Marine Coordination Centre in the event of any failures or loss of availability.
  2. In the rare event of a significant loss of one or more AtoN, a guard vessel may be required to maintain navigational safety. Section 3.2 provides an indicative list of the trigger points that would require the Applicant to liaise with the NLB and potentially implement additional emergency mitigations which may also require informing the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

3.2. Guard Vessel Trigger Points

  1. It is the responsibility of the operator to maintain the AtoN and provide any back-up solutions in the event of an AtoN failure. This may include:
  • repair of a broken AtoN;
  • replacement of a lost AtoN; and
  • provision of a guard vessel.
  1. Table 3.1   Open ▸ summarises the Emergency Mitigation Measure Provision Agreement in place, which identifies the party that will be responsible for the repair or replacement of AtoN (including those on structures and navigational buoys).

 

Table 3.1:
Summary of Emergency Mitigation Measures

Table 3.1: Summary of Emergency Mitigation Measures

 

  1. The following list summarises trigger points which have been deemed to require consultation with the NLB in which further mitigation may be required should a key navigational aid fail. It should be noted that the following list of trigger points is not intended to be exhaustive but is to provide broad expectations for the requirement of additional protection measures to be taken and will be reviewed/agreed post-consent.
  • loss of key (i.e. Significant Peripheral Structure (SPS)) navigational light (navigational mark or fixed structure) for greater than 72 hours;
  • failure of sound signal for greater than 120 hours;
  • loss of station of cardinal navigational mark, including significant delay (greater than 72 hours) to it being restored;
  • AtoN repeatedly failing to meet IALA availability standards;
  • deployment of an emergency buoy due to an unmarked hazard within the Array
  • throughout significant maintenance works where an increase in navigational risk is posed

3.3. Aviation Lighting

  1. The Air Navigation Order (2016) states “in the event of the failure of any light which is required by this article to be displayed by night the person in charge must repair or replace the light as soon as reasonably practicable.” (HM Government, 2016).
  2. It is accepted that there may be occasions when meteorological or sea conditions prohibit the safe transport of personnel for repair tasks. Furthermore, there may be fault conditions that are wider ranging and would take longer to diagnose or repair. In such cases, international standards and recommended practices require the issue of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
  3. The CAA considers the operator of an offshore wind farm as an appropriate person for the request of a NOTAM relating to the lighting of their wind farm (CAA, 2016). Should the anticipated outage be greater than 36 hours, the Applicant shall request a NOTAM to be issued by informing the NOTAM section of the UK Aeronautical Information Service as soon as possible via the CAA’s Airspace Regulation – AROps@caa.co.uk/0207 453 6599.
  4. Upon completion of the remedial works, the Aeronautical Information Service shall be notified as soon as possible to enable a cancellation to be issued.
  5. If an outage is expected to last longer than 14 days, then the CAA shall also be notified directly to discuss any issues that may arise and longer-term strategies.
  6. In order to expedite the dissemination of information during active aviation operations the Applicant may also establish a direct communication method with aviation operators in the area. The information provided shall be the same as the information provided in the NOTAM and where possible include a NOTAM reference.