safety zone statement... · august 2013 safety zone statement pursuant to regulation 6(1)(b)(ii) of...

August 2013

Safety Zone Statement

Pursuant to Regulation 6(1)(b)(ii) of the Infrastructure Planning

(Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009

Application reference: 7.1

DOGGER BANK CREYKE BECK

F-DVC-SP-002 © 2013 Forewind

ii

Title:

Safety Zone Statement

Contract No. (if applicable)

(Offshore)

Document Number:

F-DVC-SP-002

Issue No:

3

Issue Date:

26-July-2013

Status:

Issued for 1st. Technical Review

Issued for 2nd. Technical Review

Issued for PEI3

Issued for Application

Submission

Prepared by: Melissa Read

Checked by: Adrian Pattison / Sophie Barrell

Approved by:

Gareth Lewis

Signature / Approval (Forewind)

Gareth Lewis

Approval Date:

13 August 2013

Revision History

Date Issue No. Remarks / Reason for Issue Author Checked Approved

26/07/2013 1 Internal technical review MR SSC / AP /

SB

28/07/13

28/07/2013 2 Approval MR GL 08/08/13

13/08/13 3 SMT sign off MR SMT 13/08/13


F-DVC-SP-002 © 2013 Forewind

iii

Contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

2 Background .................................................................................................................. 3

2.1 Background ......................................................................................................... 3

2.2 Legislative context .............................................................................................. 3

3 Safety zone application ................................................................................................. 5

3.1 The need for safety zones................................................................................... 5

3.2 Scope of the safety zone application .................................................................. 6

3.3 Making the safety zone application ..................................................................... 7


F-DVC-SP-002 Page 1 © 2013 Forewind

1 Introduction

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This Safety Zone Statement is provided by Forewind Limited (Forewind) in relation to

the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck offshore wind farms.

1.1.2 Dogger Bank Creyke Beck comprises two proposed offshore wind farms to be

located within the Dogger Bank Zone in the North Sea. As these wind farms are both

more than 100 megawatts, under the Planning Act 2008 the project is classed as a

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. Therefore, in order to gain development

consent and deemed Marine Licences to construct and operate the wind farms it is

necessary to apply to the Major Applications and Plans Directorate of the Planning

Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO).

1.1.3 This statement accompanies the final application and is submitted alongside a draft

DCO, an Environmental Statement, a Consultation Report and other statutory and

non-statutory documents.

1.2 Purpose of this document

1.2.1 This statement addresses the requirements of Section 95 of the Energy Act 2004

(safety zones around renewable energy installations) and explains that it is the

intention to apply to the Secretary of State for a safety zone scheme during the

construction and, under some circumstances, the operational phase of the Dogger

Bank Creyke Beck offshore wind farm.

1.2.2 Regulation 6(1)(b)(ii) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms

and Procedures) Regulations 2009 (APFP Regulations) requires an applicant for the

construction of an offshore generating station to provide a statement about whether

applications will be made for safety zones in respect of that offshore generating

station.

1.2.3 In summary, Forewind anticipate that an application for safety zones would be made

to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) incorporating some or all

of the following provisions.

i. Construction phase – up to 500 metre safety zones would be proposed

on a rolling basis around active construction works and any potentially

hazardous partially completed structures.

ii. Operational phase – up to 500 metre safety zone proposed around the

sites of any exceptional major maintenance works and 500 metre safety

zones around manned platforms, such as accommodation platforms. If a

safety case can be made, there is also the possibility that safety zones



may be requested around other platforms and 50 metre safety zones may

be requested around turbines.

iii. Decommissioning phase – there are no safety zones proposed at present

during this phase. A separate application would be made prior to

decommissioning where necessary.

1.2.4 The ultimate need for navigational safety measures will be defined based on the final

project design and in consultation with the relevant marine authorities.



2 Background

2.1 Background

2.1.1 In January 2010, following a competitive tender process, The Crown Estate awarded

Forewind the exclusive development rights for ‘Zone 3 Dogger Bank’; the largest of

the Round 3 offshore wind farm zones. The Dogger Bank Zone comprises an area of

8,660km2, and is located in the North Sea between 125km and 290km off the coast

of Yorkshire. Forewind is a consortium comprising four leading international energy

companies (RWE, SSE, Statkraft and Statoil).

2.1.2 Dogger Bank Creyke Beck is the first application within the zone to be submitted to

the Planning Inspectorate for consent. The application comprises two offshore wind

farms; Dogger Bank Creyke Beck A and Dogger Bank Creyke Beck B, with a total

generating capacity of up to 2.4 gigawatts (GW).

2.1.3 From the point of consent, the development of Dogger Bank Creyke Beck will be

taken forward to construction by two special purpose companies known as Bizco 1

and Bizco 4. It will be these companies that have responsibility for submitting the

safety zone applications post-consent.

2.1.4 Further information on the location and design of the wind farm, in addition to an

assessment of any likely environmental effects, is set out in the draft Environment

Statement which is also available for consultation.

2.1.5 A draft Safety Zone Statement was produced for consultation purposes alongside the

statutory consultation in April 2013 and, in addition, there has been continuing

dialogue with the key consultees, such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

(MCA) and Trinity House Lighthouse Service, throughout the development process.

This consultation is documented in Table 2.2 of Chapter 16 of the Environmental

Statement and in the Consultation Report, and has informed the content of this final

Safety Zone Statement.

2.2 Legislative context

2.2.1 The process for applying to the Secretary of State (for Energy and Climate Change)

for a safety zone to be established around an Offshore Renewable Energy

Installation is set out in basic terms by Section 95 and Schedule 16 of the Energy Act

2004. The provisions apply to territorial waters in or adjacent to England, Scotland

and Wales and to waters in the UK Renewable Energy Zone.

2.2.2 The Electricity (Offshore Generating Stations) (Safety Zones) (Applications

Procedures and Control of Access) Regulations 2007 (‘the 2007 Regulations’) were

introduced in August 2007 clarifying the process for applying for a safety zone and

advertising such applications. Guidelines accompanying the 2007 Regulations were

also published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform



(replaced by DECC) to assist applicants in the process of making an application for

safety zones.

2.2.3 The provision for safety zones applies to all Offshore Renewable Energy

Installations, including those which have already been consented and includes those

which are:

i) used (or will be used or, in the case of decommissioning, have been used)

for purposes connected with the production of energy from water or winds;

ii) permanently rest on, or are permanently attached to, the bed of the waters;

and,

iii) are not connected with dry land by a permanent structure providing access

at all times for all purposes.

2.2.4 The safety zone provision does not cover export cables or inter-array cables, or parts

thereof, located outside an approved safety zone.

2.2.5 Regulation 6(1)(b)(ii) of the APFP Regulations requires the applicant for a DCO for

the construction of an offshore generating station to provide a statement with the

application as to whether applications will be made for safety zones in respect of that

offshore generating station.



3 Safety zone application

3.1 The need for safety zones

3.1.1 It is the intention to make an application for a safety zone post-consent, in

accordance with the legislation. Assuming consent is granted in late 2014 / early

2015, it is estimated that construction will start on Creyke Beck after 18 months and

no later than 7 years from the grant of consent. The safety zone application would be

made prior to construction starting and would last for the duration of the construction

and operational periods.

3.1.2 The purpose of designating safety zones would be to manage the interaction

between vessels and the wind farm in order to protect life, property and the

environment. The fundamental principle is that vessels would be kept at a safe

distance from construction and commissioning and operational activities related to

the wind farm in order to avoid collisions.

3.1.3 Pursuant to section 95(2) of the Energy Act 2004, the purposes for which the

Secretary of State may consider it appropriate to issue a notice designating safety

zones are for the purposes of securing the safety of:

i. the renewable energy installation or its construction or decommissioning;

ii. other installations in the vicinity of the installation or the place where it is to be

constructed or extended;

iii. individuals in or on the installation or other installations in that vicinity; or,

iv. vessels in that vicinity or individuals on such vessels.

3.1.4 The 2007 Regulations and the accompanying ‘Guidelines on Safety Zone

Applications’1 set out what are considered to be ‘standard dimensions’ for safety

zones:

i. 500 metres during construction and major maintenance2; and,

ii. 50 metres during the operational phase.

3.1.5 Where a safety zone relates to a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project

proposing an energy installation, as in the case of Dogger Bank Creyke Beck, the

appropriate decision maker for safety zones is the Secretary of State for DECC. The

safety zone application will therefore be made to DECC which may, if it is considered

1 Applications to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for the

establishment of safety zones around offshore renewable energy installations under the Energy Act 2004 - Guidance Notes; Published by DBERR, August 2007.

2 Defined by Part 1, Regulation 2 of the 2007 Regulations as: “works relating to any renewable energy

installation which has become operational, requiring the attachment to, or anchoring next to, such an installation of a self elevating platform, jack-up barge, crane barge or other maintenance vessel."



appropriate to do so, issue a notice declaring that such areas as are specified or

described in the notice are to be safety zones. The safety zone application will be

made to DECC prior to construction commencing at Dogger Bank Creyke Beck.

3.1.6 Monitoring will be carried out on behalf of the developers constructing the wind farms

by the construction vessels during the construction phase.

3.2 Scope of the safety zone application

3.2.1 Chapter 16 of the draft Environmental Statement proposes construction and

decommissioning safety zones in line with the standard approach discussed above,

with 500 metres working safety zones proposed to be established around wind

turbines and construction vessels.

3.2.2 As a result, the intention is to apply for a standard safety zone of a radius of up to

500 metres from any proposed construction activity during construction. This 500

metre zone will be measured as a distance from the outer edge of wind turbine

foundation structures, the offshore substation platform and the cable installation

vessels within the construction zone while installation activities are on-going.

3.2.1 During the construction, major maintenance and eventual decommissioning phases

these will be ‘rolling’ safety zones in order to minimise disruption to mariners and

other users of the sea. These will cover only those areas of the total site in which

such activities are actually taking place at a given time. Once that activity has been

completed in that specific location, the safety zone will then ‘roll on’ to cover the next

specific location within the site in which such activity is taking place.

3.2.2 During the operational phase, it is anticipated an application would be made for

safety zones of up to 500 metres to be employed where major maintenance works

are being carried out, in accordance with the definition set out in the ‘Guidelines on

Safety Zone Applications’.

3.2.3 In relation to the remainder of the operational phase, 500 metre operational safety

zones for manned platforms (for example accommodation platforms or other

platforms containing an element of accommodation) are likely to be required, and this

is considered appropriate by the MCA and Trinity House Lighthouse Service due to

the principles of ‘safety of life’. It is not considered other operational safety zones will

be necessary, although they may be considered around other platforms and turbines

at a later stage, for example once the development is operational, if a safety case is

present.

3.2.4 The statement does not currently address in detail any safety zone requirements

relating to the decommissioning phase. If, following consultation with DECC and

other relevant bodies such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a safety zone is

deemed to be advisable for the decommissioning, a further safety zone application

would be made at the relevant time.



3.3 Making the safety zone application

3.3.1 Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the draft DCO describes the works for which development

consent is being sought. This includes: up to 400 wind turbines with supporting tower

structures and foundations; offshore converter, collector and accommodation

platforms; offshore and onshore export cables; cable landfall and transition joint bays;

and onshore converter stations.

3.3.2 A formal safety zone application is normally expected to be made following award of

the main development consent (in this case the granting of the DCO by the Secretary

of State). The guidance on safety zone applications notes that following award of

consent a developer will have then taken decisions on a range of important technical

issues, such as foundation type and the locations of the installations, which will make

up an array. This ensures that decisions about safety zones, and particularly how a

safety zone notice should be drawn up, can be taken on the basis of firm,

comprehensive and up-to-date information. The application is to be made to DECC

with notice of application served on the Navigation Safety Branch of the Maritime and

Coastguard Agency.

3.3.3 In the case of the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck, an application for safety zones for each

wind farm would be made following completion of the detailed design work but prior

to the start of the construction works. Currently the submission of an application is

anticipated between 2016 and 2021 subject to the date of consent and subsequently

the progression of the design and procurement process. Depending on the

construction timetables of Dogger Bank Creyke Beck A and Dogger Bank Creyke

Beck B, safety zone applications for each wind farm may be made separately.

3.3.4 Schedule 16 (Paragraph 3) of the Energy Act 2004 and Regulation 3 of The

Electricity (Offshore Generating Stations) (Safety Zones) (Application Procedures

and Control of Access) Regulations 2007 requires that the following information

should be included within a written application for safety zones in respect of an

offshore generating station. This information would be provided to DECC as the

decision-making body in the event that an application for a safety zone scheme is

made.

i. A map showing:

a) the place where the relevant renewable energy installation is to be, or is

being, constructed, extended, operated or decommissioned; and

b) the waters in relation to which any declaration applied for will establish a

safety zone;

ii. A description of the installation and its proposed or existing location and

dimensions (including an explanation of how much of it is (or is expected to

be) visible above the water line and how much below it), supported by

drawings;

iii. A description of how the installation operates (or is to operate);

iv. A description of the location (or proposed location) of:



a) any electric line used (or proposed to be used) for the conveyance of

electricity to or from the installation;

b) any connection to such an electric line;

v. A description of the location (or proposed location) of any offshore sub-

station housing connection equipment;

vi. Where the zone is sought in respect of more than one relevant renewable

energy installation, the proposed or existing distances between such

installations;

vii. Details of any navigational marking that has been specified for use with an

installation of the description in question by a general lighthouse authority;

viii. Whether the zone relates to the construction, extension, operation or

decommissioning of the relevant renewable energy installation;

ix. Whether the applicant seeks the declaration of a standard safety zone, or if

not, what dimensions are sought for the zone;

x. A description of those works or operations being applied for and their

estimated date and duration;

xi. Whether the applicant proposes that the area of the zone will vary and any

factors or determinations by reference to which the applicant proposes that

such variation may take place;

xii. Whether the zone relates to major maintenance works in respect of a

relevant renewable energy installation which has become operational;

xiii. A statement setting out what steps, if any, the applicant proposes to take to

monitor vessels and activities within the zone;

xiv. An up to date shipping traffic survey for the waters comprising the zone

(except where the Secretary of State has notified the applicant that it is not

required); and

xv. An assessment of the extent to which navigation might be possible or should

be restricted, and whether restrictions would cause navigational problems,

within or near waters where the relevant renewable energy installation is to

be, or is being, constructed, extended, operated or decommissioned, as the

case may be.

3.3.5 Currently it is anticipated the safety zone application is likely to comprise the

following:

i. up to a 500 metre radius around each wind turbine and their foundations

whilst work is being performed as indicated by the presence of construction

vessels; and,

ii. up to a 500 metre radius around all major maintenance works being

undertaken around the wind turbines and their foundations.

3.3.6 The 2007 Regulations also require an application to be publicised by notice in a

prescribed manner and copies of the notice must be sent to:



i. the harbour masters of ports whose users are, in the opinion of the applicant,

likely to be affected by the application;

ii. to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency HQ plus the Maritime Rescue Co-

ordination Centre responsible for operations in the waters in which the safety

zone is proposed or located; and,

iii. the local office of the Marine Management Organisation which is responsible

for operations in the waters in which the safety zone is proposed or located.

3.3.7 In addition, the DECC guidelines on the 2007 Regulations advise that applicants

undertake early consultation with ‘interested parties’ on their intention to make an

application for safety zones. This document is part of this consultation, which will

continue during the current pre-application stage of the development process. DECC

will also consult with a range of organisations upon receipt of an application for safety

zones, post-consent.

3.3.8 The developers will take note of the prescribed publicity and notification requirements

in preparing an application and will conduct further consultation with regard to safety

zones, prior to making an application to DECC.

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