Traficom actively participates in the guidance of plans and projects related to offshore wind power, as well as in coordinating shipping and offshore wind power in close cooperation with other authorities and offshore wind developers.
Traficom's guidelines on offshore wind power and shipping
When an offshore wind power park is located near shipping lanes or maritime traffic areas, the wind turbines can cause interference with vessels' radar, radio, and positioning systems as well as with radar monitoring used in maritime traffic control. Wind turbines can also jeopardize maritime safety and impair operational conditions, especially during ice-covered periods.
The purpose of Traficom’s offshore wind power guidelines is to safeguard the operational conditions of Finland’s merchant shipping and ensure safe navigation throughout the year, so that the current risk level for maritime traffic does not significantly increase due to offshore wind farms constructed near shipping lanes, maritime traffic areas, maritime safety equipment, or maritime radars or radio stations.
The guidelines can be found via the link below.
Coordinating offshore wind power and maritime infrastructure
Finland’s coastline has over 10,000 kilometers of public navigation routes extending along the coast. All Finland’s merchant shipping routes are under traffic control, monitored by approximately 100 VTS radars. The primary observation tool for traffic control is radar, which must have an unobstructed view of the surveillance area. Due to the extensive network of routes and radars, planned offshore wind farms are often located relatively close to shipping lanes or between a route and a VTS radar.
When planning wind turbines at sea, attention must be paid from the early planning stages to the network of shipping lanes, maritime safety equipment, and maritime radar systems, which set requirements for suitable offshore wind power areas from a maritime perspective. The uninterrupted operation of radars is essential, and if an offshore wind power project causes interference, the disturbance must be compensated with a new radar.
Restrictions on offshore wind power construction
Construction of wind turbines within navigation route areas is prohibited if it obstructs maritime traffic in the designated area. Anchoring areas and approach areas to shipping lanes are also important parts of the route structure and are subject to the same requirements for unobstructed passage.
Distance requirements and case-by-case assessment
In offshore wind power projects where the effects of wind turbines on maritime traffic or maritime infrastructure have not been studied in detail, turbines should not be planned closer than 1.5 kilometers from the edges of navigation routes or anchoring areas to ensure maritime safety and unobstructed traffic. In northern sea areas, winter navigation safety and operational conditions may require increasing the minimum distance beyond 1.5 kilometers.
The distance between traffic separation schemes, maritime traffic areas on the open sea, approach areas to shipping lanes, and offshore wind power areas should be at least 1–3 nautical miles.
More precise distance requirements are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the location of the offshore wind power area, winter navigation conditions, studies conducted for the project, and risk assessments by maritime operators.
From a maritime perspective, it is recommended to contact Traficom already at the early planning stage regarding suitable offshore wind power areas and necessary investigations.