2002, Hydrosearch Associates Ltd., Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm, Radar Impact Analysis

QinetiQ has been commissioned by Hydrosearch Associates Ltd to assess the interference of the Gunfleet Sands Wind Farm with the maritime navigation radars from the Port of London Authority (PLA) used for their vessel traffic service (VTS) system. Other interested stakeholders include the commercial and leisure shipping using the channels, the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), who use a live firing range at Shoeburyness. The outcome of the study show that physical shadowing, mirroring and interference with SSR are all thought to be highly unlikely to occur. False tracks may be generated on MTI radar, but will be very localised to the site itself on any PPI displays. There are some concerns over saturation shadowing and side lobe spreading at the Holland Haven radar site which have been outlined. Neither of these effects will appear near the commercial deep water channels approximately 15km south east of the proposed wind farm site, but will marginally affect the shallow water channels immediately adjacent to it.