In the interest of international shipping, the KVNR calls on the Dutch government to lead the spatial (re)organisation process of the North Sea. The aim of this process will be to ensure that seagoing vessels can continue to navigate safely and smoothly when sailing along the Dutch coast or into Dutch ports.
- VTS coverage
All Dutch wind farms – including, if possible, those on the entire Dutch Continental Shelf – must be covered by a radar shipping traffic control system (Vessel Traffic Service, VTS).
- Support ships
Support ships (known as Emergency Standby Vessels, ESVs) must also positioned in specific areas to prevent collisions with wind turbines in emergency situations:
- one ESV on the west side of the future Hollandse Kust Zuidwest wind farm,
- two ESVs on the west side of the future Hollandse Kust Noordwest wind farm,
- two ESVs on the west side of the future Hollandse Kust West wind farm.
Smooth connections in the northeast
The Dutch government must coordinate with the German government to guarantee that shipping traffic control systems and routes heading east of the Wadden Islands into the German Bight are adequately aligned to future German wind farms.
Situations where ships are forced to make dangerously sharp turns or unnecessarily cross with other shipping routes must be prevented.
Any changes to shipping routes within the Dutch EEZ – including the necessary approval from the International Maritime Organization – should not be the determining factor in the decision making process of North Sea strategy.