Dogger Bank offshore survey

This latest survey by UK contractors Brown & May Marine Ltd, Jubilee Fishing Company Ltd and Precision Marine Surveys Ltd signifies the end of the application process for Forewind, which was originally awarded the rights to develop Dogger Bank in January 2010.

Dr Lee Clarke, general manager, Forewind, said: “The survey work to date will provide the organisation with virtually all the necessary data for the environmental impact assessments for three stages of development, each stage with two up to 1.2 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm projects.”

“It is safe to say we have completed the most ambitious and extensive campaign of survey work ever undertaken to assess an area in readiness for the consent, construction and operations of any offshore wind development”, he added.

Over the last few years, Forewind has initiated a huge range of ornithological and marine mammal, geotechnical, geophysical, benthic and fish ecology surveys to understand and characterise the seabed, environment and marine conditions of the zone as part of its offshore assessment work. The total cost of all of the survey work amounts to around £60m.

As well as forming the basis for the application process for the new farm, the survey data will provide a wealth of information for nature conservation organisations and other commercial bodies in the UK and in Europe.