Concerns about noise from wind farm development

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has responded to comments about noise off the Sussex coast generated by the development of  the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm.

Following discussions with the developer,  E.On, changes to their processes to reduce noise impact. These include:

• installing noise-reducing acoustic panels around pump equipment onshore (which for safety reasons has to run continuously)
• reducing speed of vessels and using anchors so that engines can be turned off
• scheduling maintenance activities where noisy tools are required to be in day time only
• instructing vessels leaving Shoreham Port at night to follow a different route in order to minimise impact on residences at Shoreham Beach

The developer has also committed to avoiding piling activity overnight when weather conditions mean excessive noise may carry to shore, for example during warm, still nights.