The Carbon Trust has published new guidance for developers carrying out unexploded ordnance and boulder clearance studies at offshore wind projects.
The Trust said its comprehensive new guidance will specifically support offshore cable installation by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of pre-construction surveys.
“After an initial review of the technologies available and past issues with surveying it became clear the equipment was not the issue, but the design,” said Carbon Trust offshore wind director Jan Matthiesen.
“By publishing this work we are providing industry with the tools to optimise this critical part of the planning process for offshore wind farms.”
The new advice aims to help developers design and execute surveys according to best practice, help structure studies and improve result documentation.
The new guidelines build on industry advice published in 2015 and can be found in full here.
The Trust said the work will reduce delays and mitigate increased costs at projects as faults in survey design can result in repeated studies and cause unexpected damage to equipment.