Identification of Navigational Risks Associated with Wind Farms
Purpose: This paper analyses navigational hazards associated with vessel traffic around wind farms. Monitoring ship movements in the area of an offshore wind farm has a significant impact on the safety not only of the wind farm itself, but also on the safety of navigation. The study investigated the monitoring of ship traffic in the area of the Southern Baltic Sea in the region of planned wind farms to identify risks associated with new offshore renewable energy projects. Design/Methodology/Approach: The analysis of hazards and their consequences in the study area was carried out using the risk matrix method. The study was based on AIS data from the years 2021, 2020 and 2019, related to the area of the planned project and adjacent areas. Risk identification and analysis was performed for the three life stages of the wind farm: construction, operation and decommissioning. Findings: Based on the research and analysis of extensive information on the traffic of vessels including various vessel types and functions, the authors have made an in-depth analysis of maritime safety around planned investment projects related to the construction of renewable energy sources along the Polish coast. The results made it possible to identify factors affecting navigational safety, as well as to analyse the risks associated with vessel traffic in the vicinity of planned wind farms. Practical Implications: The results obtained in the study allow the estimation of navigational safety in the region around wind farms in the Southern Baltic Sea. Originality/Value: Numerous investments in renewable energy sources such as offshore wind farms are planned along the Polish coast in the years to come. Investing in offshore wind energy ideally addresses Europe's current energy problems and European projects, which include the need to replace coal-fired power stations with much more environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy. An essential factor in planning such future investments is navigational safety in the vicinity of these facilities. This analysis is a new approach to identifying the various risks associated with the construction of wind farms.