The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it will pilot a customized maritime safety monitoring service for offshore wind farms starting September 9. The service will allow offshore wind farm operators to directly monitor vessel traffic in surrounding waters at the Southwest Offshore Wind Demonstration Complex and the Hanlim Offshore Wind Farm.
As large-scale offshore wind farms have increasingly been developed along South Korea's coasts in recent years, the need for safety management of vessel traffic near wind farms has been continuously raised.
In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries developed a system that enhances vessel operation information analyzed by the Sea Navi Central Center to suit the offshore wind environment. The system automatically detects when vessels enter the wind farm or approach wind turbines and provides alerts when collision risk is high.
Through this system, wind farm operators can immediately identify dangerous situations and take swift initial responses such as broadcasting guidance and emergency measures, which is expected to greatly assist on-site safety management. Operators can access a web-based system provided by the Ministry without installing separate equipment and use it for vessel traffic safety management.
The Ministry plans to conduct pilot operations at two offshore wind farm sites through the end of the year and then gradually expand the application to additional sites starting next year.
Jung Do-hyun, director of the Maritime Safety Bureau at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated: "We expect that offshore wind farm safety management will be significantly strengthened as safety managers can directly monitor maritime traffic conditions in real time and respond quickly. We will actively support prompt deliberation and passage of the partial amendment bill to the Maritime Traffic Safety Act, which has already been introduced to the National Assembly, including provisions to establish safety zones in offshore wind farms."
Original Korean article: Nyuseucheinji
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
