The rapid expansion of offshore wind farms and wave energy devices around the UK coastline is creating serious hazards for shipping, navigation systems and emergency rescue operations, according to guidance published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The agency warns that the ‘location, size and irregular shape’ of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREIs) present ‘new challenges to the safe navigation and communication of shipping and emergency rescue’, and that these difficulties ‘could contribute to a marine casualty leading to injury, death or loss of property, either at sea or among the population ashore’.