Wind power planning process threatens UK trade
23 August 2010
The absurd process for allocating wind farm sites around the UK coast is wasting time and money according to the Chamber of Shipping, the trade association for UK shipowners and managers.
The flawed process also threatens the nation’s trade routes and the safety of our seafarers. It could even mean that the environmental benefits of wind generation are lost due to the lengthy diversions forced on traditionally powered ships.
“All too often, shipping and other users of our seas are not taken into account or consulted until after the sites have been designed” comments Saurabh Sachdeva, Nautical Consultant at the Chamber of Shipping.
“By this time, a substantial sum of money has already been spent by the developers on economic and environmental assessments, making them naturally defensive of the proposed sites and not receptive to suggestions that the sites are unsuitable because of concerns over maritime safety or negative economic impact on shipping and other industries.”
Shipping interests fully recognise the importance of renewable energy sources and especially offshore wind. They also stand to benefit commercially since offshore wind generation offers significant market opportunities both in the UK and later, through ‘first mover’ expertise, elsewhere in the world. Maritime sectors that may see business opportunities include the ports, survey vessels, offshore construction vessels, jack-up rigs, maintenance vessels and cable layers.
There is a lot to gain, but shipping believes that it must not be at the expense of safety for seafarers or risk to our trade routes. Such risks can be removed by ensuring that the safety of navigation and potential impact on trade routes are considered at an early a stage when identifying and deciding on future wind farm sites.
The current process is neither simple nor rational and on several occasions developers have failed to apply the government’s marine safety codes, guidance and policies in a coherent and transparent manner. If wind farms are to be delivered in a safe and responsible manner then robust decisions, based on sound criteria, will need to be made taken. The shipping industry’s major concern is that, despite the various codes of practice, Maritime Notices and the requirements of the Electricity Act, Offshore Renewable Energy developments are increasingly encroaching on well-established sea lanes, strategic trade routes and the approaches to ports. Applications for developments continue to be put forward which clearly represent a danger to other sea users.
The Chamber of Shipping – which represents the UK’s shipping industry and has a reputation as being at the forefront of campaigns to improve the already excellent environmental impact of the industry – is lobbying government, the Crown Estates (who own and allocate the seabed areas for wind farm developments) and the developers for a radical change to the way developments are approved.
It sees the answer as being to avoid conflicts that might arise between the energy and the maritime sector through a two pronged approach:
• Firstly, the major shipping trade routes, lanes and subsidiary routes used by commercial, non-commercial and fishing vessels around the UK should be clearly designated and preserved.
Any pre-assessment of recognised shipping lanes should not only take into account existing trade routes but also be future-proofed, so that Government can respond to any policy need for new routes to become available.
• In order to achieve this, Government should bring together all relevant departments and bodies which have an interest for central discussions aimed at identifying current and future shipping routes around the UK coastline which are considered essential and of commercial significance.
Such discussions would have the benefit of giving clear and agreed direction, over and above the current guidance, to all parties – prior to the submission of individual development tender processes and applications – on those areas where developments will not be accepted.
This approach would be ‘better regulation’ since it would save developers, government and stakeholders valuable time and resources when presenting and processing applications and by making planning consultations more focused on specific practical concerns relating to the specific site and minimising conflicts between the different interests.
Such a move could, at a stroke, be fundamental in ensuring the safe, successful and timely delivery of the government’s renewable energy obligations – whilst keeping the trading nation, UK PLC in business.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Claire Sneddon, Chamber of Shipping
020 7417 2888
Notes to Editor
• The Chamber of Shipping is the trade association for the UK shipping industry, working to promote and protect the interests of its members both nationally and internationally. With 139 members and associate members, the Chamber represents over 932 ships of about 25 million gross tonnes and is recognised as the voice of the UK shipping industry.