RA 02 – One of a series of Steamship Mutual Loss Prevention Bulletins produced by the Ship Safety Trust Page 1 of 4 For further information please contact the Loss Prevention Department, Steamship Insurance Management Services Ltd., Tel: +44 20 7247 5490; Email: loss.prevention@simsl.com Web: www.simsl.com/loss-prevention-and-safety-training.html Navigation In The Vicinity of Offshore Navigation In The Vicinity of Offshore Navigation In The Vicinity of Offshore Navigation In The Vicinity of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations Renewable Energy InstallationsRenewable Energy Installations Renewable Energy Installations Introduction IntroductionIntroduction Introduction The United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency has recently published a Marine Guidance Note; MGN 372 (M+F) for the attention of, amongst others, Shipowners, Masters and Ships Officers, concerning the factors to be taken into account when planning a passage and navigating in the vicinity of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations, (OREIs). OREIs comprise Wind Turbines, Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and Tidal Energy Converters (TECs). The guidance contained within the MGN is principally concerned with the renewable energy installations that are, or are to be situated around the coast of the United Kingdom, however, some of the advice contained within the document is referenced to International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Recommendation O-117 on ‘The Marking of Offshore Wind Farms’, Recommendation O-131 on ‘The Marking of Offshore Wave and Tidal Energy Devices’ and IALA Recommendation O114 on ‘Recommendations on the Marking of Offshore Structures’. Therefore some of the information given within the MGN will be applicable in other countries with OREIs that are members of IALA. By far the most common type of OREI at present is the wind turbine. With many commercial turbines in operation, these may be sited individually, or as part of a wind farm; the latter may be extensive, with some having a coverage area approaching 100 nautical square miles. Large wind farms may have an offshore transformer station present; this will be similar in appearance to a small oilfield offshore production platform. When a transformer station is present submarine cables will lead from each turbine to the transformer station, from where power will be exported to shore via an export cable. The wind farms may have irregular shapes and may well be located close together. At present WEC and TEC development is at an early stage and only test sites exist around the UK at present, however the world’s first wave farm site has recently commenced operation off the Portuguese coast. It has to be borne in mind that OREIs are a fairly recent development and many of the technologies involved are in their infancy; therefore the guidance given is of a general nature and will no doubt be expanded as experience of the location, operation and peculiarities associated with OREIs is gained as time passes. Information available on navigation charts and in Sailing Directions should be studied and it is planned that the next edition of ‘The Mariners Handbook’ (NP100) will contain further information on OREIs. Charting of OREIs Charting of OREIsCharting of OREIs Charting of OREIs Information on the location of the various types of OREIs will be found on navigational charts, and updated as necessary by Admiralty Notices to Mariners. Any urgent information regarding OREIs will be promulgated by navigatio