As of 9 February, the high-speed offshore service craft of up to 500 GT will be able to carry up to 60 workers to and from wind farms offshore the UK while still meeting safety standards under new rules proposed by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
More specifically, vessels which transported workers to offshore wind farms were previously not legally allowed to carry more than 12 industrial personnel.
To carry more workers to and from their place of work, these vessels had to comply with stricter safety requirements for passenger ships.
The new rules provide a solution to the increasing number of logistical problems in the operation and maintenance of these wind farm.
I’m pleased that we can reduce red tape while maintaining the highest safety standards to support the offshore wind industry
the UK’s Maritime Minister Robert Courts said.
The legislative changes came after discussions between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the industry in order to solve the logistical problems of transporting workers.
After a six-week consultation, new legislation will allow workers on offshore wind farms to be classified differently from normal passengers as they are required to be fit and to have undertaken specialist marine safety and survival training.
There are currently around 46 vessels of this type operating in UK waters, this new legislation provides legal clarity to the offshore wind farm industry to carry workers to and from wind farms dependent on each individual vessels’ capacity. This brings the UK in line with many other countries that already have similar regulations in place
Gwilym Stone, Assistant Director, Ship Standards at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency stated.