Project: A2953 Client: East Anglia Offshore Wind Limited Title:
East Anglia THREE– Navigation Risk Assessment 27 Communication and Position Fixing
412. The following section summarises the potential impacts of the different communications and position fixing devices used in and around offshore windfarms from the potential effects of the proposed East Anglia THREE project on the physical environment. This section includes a literature review of the industry assessments.
27.1 Impact of Marine Radar 413.
In 2004 the MCA conducted trials within and close to the North Hoyle windfarm off
North Wales to determine any impact of wind turbines on marine communications and navigations systems (MCA and QinetiQ, 2004).
414. The trials indicated that there is minimal impact on VHF radio, GPS receivers, cellular telephones and AIS. UHF and other microwave systems suffered from the normal masking effect when turbines were in the line of the transmissions.
415. This trial identified areas of concern with regard to the potential impact on vessel borne and shore based radar systems. This is due to the large vertical extent of the wind turbine generators returning radar responses strong enough to produce interfering side lobe, multiple and reflected echoes (ghosts). This has also been raised as a major concern by the maritime industry with further evidence of the problems being identified by the Port of London Authority around the Kentish Flats offshore Windfarm in the Thames Estuary and by Trinity House in other locations. Based on the results of the North Hoyle trial, the MCA produced the shipping route template (MCA 2004) a non-prescriptive tool used to give guidance on the distances which should be established between shipping routes and offshore windfarms.
416. A second trial was conducted at Kentish Flats on behalf of BWEA (BWEA 2008). The project steering group had members from BERR, the MCA and the Port of London Authority (PLA). The trial took place between 30 April and 27 June 2006. This trial was conducted in Pilotage waters and in an area covered by the PLA VTS at distances of one nautical mile and more from the windfarm. It therefore had the benefit of Pilot advice and experience but was also able to assess the impact of the generated effects on VTS radars.
417. The trial concluded that:
• The phenomena referred to above detected on marine radar displays in the vicinity of windfarms could be produced by other strong echoes close to the observing vessel although not necessarily to the same extent;
• Reflections and distortions by conventional ships structures and fittings created many of the effects and that the effects vary from vessel to vessel and radar to radar;
• VTS scanners static radars could be subject to similar phenomena as above if passing vessels provide a suitable reflecting surface but the effect did not seem to present a significant problem for the PLA VTS; and
Date: Doc:
07.05.2014 A2539 East Anglia THREE Windfarm Appendix 15.1 Page:
www.anatec.com
171
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220