east Anglian windfarm

[Ali-alshira]

Some of you will be crossing the North Sea in the region of the new East Anglian windfarm in the next few months and may be interested in our experience.

We had noted the positions of its buoys on our charts, and shaped a course which would be well clear of the nortthern limits. When about 7 miles away, we were radioed (ch 16, then 6) by the guard boat, Drifa, and asked to change our course to a specified value which took us about 3 miles further north than the northernmost buoys. We did so, and when we had passed, we radioed back and were given permission to resume our previous course. We heard others being given similar instructions.

We could see no work, no boats, even on AIS, and no buoys, so it was a bit like staring resentfully at the cones on a motorway while no work is going on, but half the lanes are coned off! So, we suspect they are being a bit over-officious, but it was all quite efficient and polite.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I remember all of the 'advice' given by guard boats trying to disuade boats from using Foulger's Gate while the London Array was being constructed but when pushed on the matter using that route rather than Fishermen's wasn't actually a problem..

 

[tillergirl]

I had had been unsuccessful to find a web site with local NtM for the East Anglia One but today I have found it. Not sure why I was unsuccessful before. I will be adding that on the Monday evening's updates regularly.

Directly to your point. A NtM was issued about the Guard vessel saying:

East Anglia One Guard Vessel

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Glomar Drifa shall commence Guard vessel duties within the windfarm limits bounded by the EA ONE construction buoyage on the 10th March 2018 until further notice. The Guard vessel Drifa can be contacted on VHF CH16 and VHF CH6

The image accompanied (I'll add that tomorrow night) makes it clear that their duties are limited to the windfarm limits - i.e. inside the buoyage!

Another NtM - "Construction started on 12th March and the rules (as usual) will be: (Loads of positional data then)

Safety Zones

The following safety zones are in place

A 500 metres safety zone around the location of each turbine, met mast, substation or their foundations comprising the East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm whilst work is being performed, as indicated by the presence of construction vessels.  A 50 metre safety zone surrounding each turbine, met mast, substation or their foundations comprising the East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm whilst work is not ongoing on that turbine, met mast, substation or their foundations. "

I believe there is a legal power granted for those rules by the Secretary of State (but I would need to dust off my mind to find that power again). Frankly, when constructing, it is sensible to follow the rules. It does actual mean that when clear of construction we could sail through the marked area. BUT construction might not be immediately obvious ie a diver with a small support vessel. And a barge might come up quite quickly and dump rocks whilst we are relatively slowly moving past. It probably makes sense to stay outside of the marked area. Three miles off seems to me to be unnecessary.

It seems to me that the NtMs will report each turbine construction as and when. For the London Array I added that detail each week because it was relevant to us because of Foulger's Gat. I am not sure I need to run a weekly plot of the EA1 (comments?).

And then - as an extra. This is not a NtM by the company but on the General Wind Farm web site, it says that from 20th April, Go Electra shall commence an EOD (explosive ordnance campaign) involved underwater explosions. The area is NOT defined! But note that some of the new obstructions reported by the UKHO recently were outside of the defined area. One wonders whether the EOD will be confined just to the marked area or whether that will include the power line route - seems logical.

I guess we could query the 3nm diversion?

(Ali in case you haven't used the NtM service, have a look at: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html )

 

[Boz]

Is this the plan?

https://www.scottishpowerrenewables...tM_2018_No25_East_Anglia_ONE_Guard_Vessel.pdf

looking at Alishira's present position, was your departure from Lowestoft?

Our departure is usually from North Shipwash, either course to Ijmuiden would be well clear of the bouyed zone?

 

[Ali-alshira]

Yes, we went from Lowestoft to IJmuiden - we meant to go directly from Walton Backwaters a few days earlier, but we had auto pilot problems and diverted to Lowestoft to solve them, and waited there for the right weather!

Note that, because the tide is quite strong around there, your "direct track" from almost anywhere on the Essex-Suffolk coast across to NL might well have you drift close to the windfarm - also, it is quite big, so you may have to divert by quite a lot to avoid it. I am sure it'll be a lot easier when they have finished construction, when we can sail between the turbines.

I was quite happy to follow Drifa's instructions to change course, but was surprised that they wanted us to go so far north ofmthe marked site, which I had copied done carefully from your website, Tillergirl, - thanks!