Second consultation on the review of MGN 543 and methodology
This follow up consultation seeks the views of industry and stakeholders on proposals to amend MGN 543 and the methodology document.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) guidance documents relating to Offshore Renewable Energy Installations have not been revised for some time, and there has been rapid growth and expansion in the renewables industry over the last few years. The MCA carried out a 12-week consultation in January 2020 and this second consultation seeks your comments on the following two documents which have been amended following stakeholder feedback:
1) Revised Marine Guidance Note (MGN) Safety of Navigation: Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREIs) – Guidance on UK Navigational Practice, Safety and Emergency Response.
This will replace MGN 543 and is being updated in accordance with current practices, to provide more information on MCA’s requirements, and to align with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
2) Revised Methodology for assessing the Navigational Safety and Emergency Response of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations
This will replace the existing Methodology document and has been amended to ensure it is more user-friendly and contains updated and relevant information for the development consent application process. There are no new aspects introduced into this document apart from the reintroduction of IMO Formal Safety Assessment guidance.
The consultation period will run for 5 weeks. Please send your responses to MCA by email to navigationsafety@mcga.gov.uk by Friday 29th January 2021.