Study on maritime safety and wind farms in the Gulf of Bothnia

Toke Koldborg Jensen, Senior Chief Project Manager, Rambøll Denmark

Study on maritime safety and wind farms in the Gulf of Bothnia
Presentation at the 9th SRA-E Nordic annual conference Nordics, Baltics and the Arctic in Transition Uncertainties and Opportunities for Risk Analysis

Abstract:
Shipping routes in the Gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden are vital for various industrial sectors of both countries, facilitating smooth maritime transportation and logistics operations. However, parts of the sea area are also relevant for potential construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) contributing to the green energy transition. Wind farm developers have for several years performed initial surveys of relevant areas, and a lot of factors influence the selection of potential wind farm areas. These factors include ship traffic as one part, but more driving forces are factors such as water depths, soil conditions, access to shore-based power grids, and a plethora of environmental conditions. Currently, several potentially interesting areas from a wind farm development perspective intersect with existing shipping routes in the entire Gulf of Bothnia – from the southern Bothnian Sea to the northernmost part of the Bay of Bothnia.

On behalf of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), Ramboll has therefore performed a study to identify critical/key areas in the Gulf of Bothnia that need to be preserved for future shipping activities, ensuring the continued safety, sustainability, and  efficiency of maritime transport. These findings will inform decision-making processes aimed at optimizing the use of the sea area from different perspectives. The study focuses on open-water conditions and hence the results do not include the effect of ice and the impact on winter navigation.

The study adheres to the risk assessment guidelines outlined in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Formal Safety Assessment (FSA), adapted to addressing various scenarios and cumulative effects related to the implementation of OWF plans and the evolution of maritime traffic in the study area.

Bio:

Toke Koldborg Jensen has his background as an engineer, MSc and PhD within applied mathematics, and he has been +15 years with Ramboll working with quantitative risk analysis and risk management, currently as Senior Chief Project Manager.

Toke has been extensively involved with navigational safety assessing impacts on ship traffic from offshore structures, primarily wind turbines, bridges, and impacts from construction activities, e.g., performing risk assessments for the ship traffic in Fehmarnbelt during construction of a fixed link between Denmark and Germany. For wind farm planning and environmental impact assessments, Toke has been involved with several studies assessing the interaction between ship traffic and wind farm layout. The current presentation is an example of a study performed for maritime authorities of balancing safety, sustainability and efficiency of maritime transport.