North West Lewis Wave Array

As electricity is generated onshore, a Marine Licence is required for the offshore components.  A Licence was issued by Marine Scotland in May 2013.

The following Conditions were included within the Marine Licence issued by Marine Scotland:

1. The Licensee must notify the licensing authority of the date of commencement and the date of completion of all operations relating to the licence.  Separate notifications are required at the times of commencement and completion.

2. The Licensee must ensure that all substances or objects deposited during the execution of the works are inert and do not contain toxic elements which may be harmful to the marine environment, the living resources which it supports or human health.

3. The Licensee must ensure that any debris or waste materials arising during the course of the works are removed from the site of the works as soon as is practicable for disposal at an approved location above the tidal level of Mean High Water Springs.

4. The Licensee must, within 28 days of completion of the works or within 28 days of the date of expiry of the licence, whichever is the sooner, submit a written report to the licensing authority stating the nature and quantity of all substances and articles deposited below Mean High Water Springs under authority of the licence.  Where appropriate, nil returns must be provided.

5. The Licensee must notify Source Data Receipt, The Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton. Somerset, TA1 2DN (Email: sdr@ukho.gov.uk; Tel; 01823 337900 of both progress and on completion of the works supply a copy of the licence, and wherever possible, 'as built plans', in order that all necessary amendments to nautical publications are made.

6. The works must be marked and/or lighted as required by the Northern Lighthouse Board and the marking to be continued unless and until the licensing authority rescind this direction. 

7. The Licensee must inform the licensing authority and the Northern Lighthouse Board as soon as practicable after the works have been completed and the marking established.

8. If the Licensee wishes to display any marks or lights not required by this licence then details of the additional markings or lightings must be submitted to the Northern Lighthouse Board and their ruling must be complied with.  The display of unauthorised marks or lights is prohibited.

9. The works must be maintained at all times in good repair.

10. No deviation from the schedule specified in the licence shall be made without the further written consent of the licensing authority.

11. No radio beacon or radar beacon operating in the Marine frequency bands shall be installed or used on the Works without the prior written approval of the licensing authority

12. If, in the opinion of the licensing authority, the assistance of a Government Department, including the broadcast of navigational warnings, is required to deal with any emergency arising from:

1. The failure to mark and light the works as required by licence.
2. The maintenance of the works.
3. The drifting or wreck of the works.

The Licensee is liable for any expenses reasonably incurred in securing such assistance.

13. An officer of HM Coastguard, or any other person authorised by the licensing authority, must be permitted to inspect the works at any reasonable time.

14. The Licensee must inform the licensing authority and the lighting authority as soon as practicable after the works have been completed and the marking established.

15. The Licensee must ensure that copies of the licence are available for inspection by any authorised Enforcement Officer at any reasonable time at:

1. The premises of the Licensee;
2. The premises of any agent acting on behalf of the Licensee; and
3. The site of the works.

16. In the event of the Licensee becoming aware that any of the information on which the issue of the licence was based has changed, the Licensee must immediately notify the licensing authority of the details of the changes.

17. The Licensee is not permitted to transfer the licence without the prior written authorisation of the licensing authority on application being made by the Licensee. The licensing authority may transfer a licence (with or without conditions) or refuse such authorisation as they may, at their own discretion, see fit. The licence cannot be transferred otherwise than in accordance with the foregoing procedure.

18. The construction and operation of the Development must be undertaken in accordance with the terms of the Application and the accompanying Environmental Statement, the Supplementary Environmental Information Statement, the Construction Method Statement, the Project Environment Monitoring Programme, the Pipeline Laying Strategy, Navigational Safety Plan, Vessel Management Plan and any other relevant plan as required except in so far as amended by the terms of the licence or by direction of the licensing authority.

19. In the event that any installed and commissioned wave energy convertor (WEC) fails to pump water to the onshore generating station(s) for a continuous period of twelve months then, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the licensing authority, following consultation with the Planning Authority and Scottish Natural Heritage, such WECs, associated monopiles and any other fitments shall be deemed to have ceased to be required. All infrastructure which is so deemed to cease to be required (the WEC and all ancillary equipment) must be dismantled and removed from the Site by the Licensee within the following six month period, or as otherwise agreed in writing with licensing authority, and the Site must be fully reinstated by the Licensee to the specification and satisfaction of the licensing authority after consultation with the Planning Authority and SNH.

20. The licensing authority reserves the right to vary or attach additional conditions to this licence in light of:

1. The results of monitoring studies required under the terms of the Schedule to this Licence; or
2. Any other observed effects considered to be directly associated with the works permitted by this licence.

Construction

21. Prior to the Commencement of Development a Construction Method Statement (“CMS”) must be submitted by the Company to the licensing authority and approved, in writing by the licensing authority, following consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Marine and Coastguard Agency, the Planning Authorities, Northern Lighthouse Board, and any such other advisors as may be required at the discretion of the licensing authority. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the licensing authority, construction of the Development must proceed in accordance with the approved CMS. The CMS must include, but not be limited to, information on the following matters:

• Commencement dates;
• Working methods including methods, scope, frequency, hours of operations;
• Duration and phasing information of key elements of construction e.g. soft start procedure,
• diurnal timing of piling, mobilising plant, delivery of materials including WEC structures, foundations, WEC locations, inter-array pipelines and pipelines up to the level of mean high water springs;
• Method of installation including techniques and equipment and depth of pipe laying and pipe landing sites;
• Proposals for micro-siting the WEC;
• Pipeline monitoring;
• Layout location for each phase and each WEC location;
• Offshore lighting requirements;
• Report writing and dates of monitoring reports;
• Design Statement.

The CMS must be cross referenced as a minimum with the Project Environmental Monitoring Programme the Vessel Management Plan and the Navigational Safety Plan.

22. The Licensee shall provide licensing authority with Third Party Verification of the device(s) and substructures three months prior to the commencement of installation works.

Monitoring

23. No later than three months prior to the commencement of pipeline laying, a Pipeline Laying Strategy must be submitted to, and approved by the licensing authority in consultation with such other advisors required at the discretion of the licensing authority. The Pipeline Laying Strategy must include details of the location, the construction methods including minimum depths and protection where appropriate, and the monitoring methods (including post laying of the pipelines) for the pipelines and landfall site. The Strategy must also include the survey results of an inter-tidal habitat and relevant species survey which will help inform the pipeline routing location. The Development must be constructed and operated in accordance with the Pipeline Laying Strategy.

24. Prior to the Commencement of Development, a Construction Noise Management Plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the licensing authority, in consultation with any such advisors as identified at the discretion of the licensing authority.

25. Prior to the Commencement of the Development, a Project Environmental Monitoring Programme (PEMP) must be submitted to, and approved by, the licensing authority in consultation with SNH and any other ecological, or such other advisors as required at the discretion of the licensing authority. The PEMP must detail measures through all phases of the WEC construction (before, during and after the construction work) to prevent adverse impacts on water quality, marine mammals, birds, commercial fish, fishing, migratory fish, habitats, coastal processes, other users and uses of the area and include species protection plans where appropriate and necessary. Where appropriate and reasonable, the PEMP must take account of, and implement recommendations from, the Construction Noise Management Plan, the Pipeline Laying Strategy, the Construction Method Statement, the Fisheries Mitigation Strategy, the Marine Pollution Contingency Plan, the Vessel Management Plan and the Navigational Safety Plan and from the Company’s Environmental Statement and Supplementary Environmental Information Statement.

The PEMP must be implemented at all times as approved (including any modifications approved following review) and in accordance with any timescales prescribed therein.

26. Prior to the Commencement of Development, the Licensee must submit to the licensing authority a Fisheries Mitigation Strategy developed in conjunction with Western Isles Fishermans Association (WIFA) and the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust (OHFT), the objective of which is to minimise the impacts the Development may have on fishing and fisheries interests and agree appropriate mitigation and where appropriate monitoring. No part of the Development shall be commenced until the licensing authority has approved the Fisheries Mitigation Strategy in writing. All works forming part of the Development must be carried out in accordance with the Fisheries Mitigation Strategy.

27. If the licensing authority consider it necessary, the Licensee must appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) or Observers and ensure that the licensing authority is notified of their identity and credentials before any construction work commences.  Should an MMO be appointed then the MMO must maintain a record of any sightings of marine mammals within the mammal monitoring zone and action taken to avoid any disturbance being caused to them.

28. Prior to the Commencement of the Development, a Vessel Management Plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the licensing authority in consultation with SNH and any such other ecological or  other advisors as  may be required at the discretion of the licensing authority. The Vessel Management Plan must include, but is not limited to, the following issues:

1. Individual vessel details;
2. Number of vessels;
3. Whether ducted propellers will be in operation;
4. How vessel management will be coordinated, particularly during construction but also during operation;
5. Location of working port(s), how often vessels will be required to transit between port(s) and the site and the routes used.

The Development must be constructed and operated in accordance with the Vessel Management Plan which must be cross-referenced with the Project Environmental Monitoring Programme, the Construction Method Statement, the Pipeline Laying Strategy, Construction Noise Management Plan and the Navigational Safety Plan.

Navigation

29. Prior to the Commencement of the Development, a Navigational Safety Plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the licensing authority in consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Northern Lighthouse Board and any other navigational advisors, or such other advisors, as may be required at the discretion of the licensing authority. The Navigational Safety Plan must include, but is not limited to, the following issues:

• Navigational safety measures;
• Exclusion zones;
• Notice(s) to Mariners and Radio Navigation Warnings;
• Buoyage;
• Anchoring areas; and
• Lighting.

The Development must be constructed and operated in accordance with the Navigational Safety Plan at all times.

30. Prior to the construction of the Development, the location of the Development must be made available for inclusion in the Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions and Anchorages - Part 4 Outer Hebrides.

31. No works comprised in the Development shall commence until the site is marked using marker boards adjacent to the most northerly and southerly extremities of the site. The marker boards must be diamond shaped with a width of 1.5 metres and a length of 2.5metres, painted yellow with the inscription ‘Wave Energy Site’ painted horizontally in black.

These structures must be mounted no less than 2 metres above ground level and be clearly visible from seaward. A yellow light, flashing once every 5 seconds (FI Y 5s), with a range of 2 nautical miles must be mounted at the centre of the diamond.

Chemical Usage

32. All chemicals utilised in the drilling operation must be selected from the List of Notified Chemicals assessed for use by the offshore oil and gas industry under the Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002 (this list can be viewed/downloaded at (www.cefas.co.uk). Should any system other that a water-based mud be considered for use in the drilling operation written approval and guidance of disposal of any arising will be required from the licensing authority.

33. The Licensee must ensure that any chemical agents placed within the void of any of the WEC bases including biocides, corrosion inhibitors etc. are selected from the List of Notified Chemicals. The use of any chemical not contained on this list requires prior consent from the licensing authority.

34. The Licensee must ensure that all protective coatings; paints etc. used are suitable for use in the marine environment and, where necessary and appropriate, are approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Such coatings must only be utilised in accordance with best environmental practice.

35. The Licensee must ensure that the storage, handling and transportation of fuels, lubricants and chemicals etc. on vessels and equipment, should be such as to prevent any releases to the marine environment.

Removal of Debris and Temporary Works

36. The Licensee must ensure that any debris and temporary works that have been placed below MHWS are removed on completion of each WEC construction or installation programme as authorised by this Licence. Any Drill cuttings, arising and associated with the use of water-based drilling muds, are permitted to remain on the seabed but only provided that they are situated within the boundaries of the site.

Auditing and Reporting

37. The Licensee must create, maintain and submit to the licensing authority a detailed transportation audit sheet each calendar month, for all aspects of the WEC construction. The audit sheet must include information on the loading facility, vessels, equipment, shipment routes, schedules and all materials listed in the marine licence (e.g. piles, pipelines, WEC components, chemicals). Any changes to the components of this audit sheet must be notified to the licensing authority by the Licensee as soon as practicable if the licensing authority becomes aware that any materials on the audit sheet are missing it will contact the Licensee advising that the Licensee must undertake a side scan sonar survey in grid lines (within operational and safety constraints), across the area of development (to include WEC array, pipeline route, and any vessel access routes from local service port(s) to the construction site). All obstructions found on the seabed as a result of said scan sonar survey must be plotted. If the licensing authority is of the view that any newly discovered obstructions are associated with the construction works, then the obstructions must be removed by the Licensee as soon as is practicable and at the Licensee’s expense.

38. If any serious health and safety incident occurs requiring the Licensee to report it to the Health and Safety Executive, then the Licensee must also notify the licensing authority of the incident within 24 hours of the incident occurring.

39. The Licensee must ensure that details of the works are promulgated prior to commencement, in the Kingfisher Fortnightly Bulletin to inform the Sea Fish Industry of the vessel routes, timings and locations.

40. The Licensee must ensure that a suitably qualified and experienced liaison officer or officers are appointed (primarily but not exclusively for environmental liaison) and the licensing authority notified of their identity and credentials before any construction work commences, to establish and maintain effective communications between the Licensee, contractors, stakeholders, conservation groups and other users of the sea during the works.

41. The Licensee must ensure that information is made available and circulated in a timely manner through the liaison officer(s) to minimise interference with stakeholders, conservation groups and other users of the sea during the works.

42. The Licensee must stipulate that the liaison officer's environmental remit includes:

1. Monitoring compliance with the commitments made in the Environmental Statement, addendum and the Project Environmental Monitoring Programme including providing regular (frequency to be agreed) updates to the licensing authority.
2. Providing a central point of contact for the monitoring programme.
3. Liaison with fishermen, conservation groups and other users of the sea concerning any amendments to the method statement and site environmental procedures.
4. Inducting site personnel on site / works environmental policy and procedures.

43. The Licensee must submit all reports, studies and surveys timeously (timescales and frequency to be agreed with licensing authority six months before Commencement of Development) to the licensing authority to allow the licensing authority to consider what, if any, resulting actions may be required as a consequence. The Licensee must advise the licensing authority, in writing, if circumstances suggest that there will be a delay in the submission of reports.

The reports must include an assessment, conclusions and an executive summary and the data within all reports must consist of its processed and unprocessed forms.  Subject to the law on data protection and freedom of information, these reports must be made publically available.

Marine Pollution Contingency Plan

44. The Licensee must produce a Marine Pollution Contingency Plan for spills and collision incidents occurring during the construction and operation of the Development.  The Contingency Plan must be adhered to in the event of any such spill or collision. The Licensee must submit the Contingency Plan to the licensing authority no later than three months prior to the Commencement of the Development for their approval. The Contingency Plan must take into account existing plans for all offshore operations. Practices used to refuel vessels at sea must conform to industry standards. The Contingency Plan must provide that in the event of any oil leaks within the WEC then the Licensee must, as soon as is practicable after the leak has been discovered, ensure that repair works are undertaken to the WEC.