Potential Impacts of Wind Farms on Shipping in the Bay of Bothnia

Research Project, 2024 – 2025

This project aims to identify the potential impacts of the planned offshore wind farms on shipping under winter conditions where ice presents significant challenges. The project will investigate where and how wind farms, ice structures, and shipping routes may intersect by analysing navigation and ice maps. The focus is on how ice conditions, particularly during severe and mild winters, could be impacted by wind farms and how this interaction could affect the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. Through AIS data analyses, ice chart analyses, literature review and interviews with shipmasters, the project will identify risks posed by these offshore structures and the impact of ice on shipping operations. The project’s results will contribute to sustainable development by ensuring that renewable energy projects do not disrupt shipping while enabling safe and efficient transport in the region.