On June 5th, Annet Koster, director of KVNR | Koninklijke Vereniging van Nederlandse Reders, will speak on the Offshore Day 2025. During this edition, she will participate in a panel on spatial planning in the North Sea, a subject of increasing importance as the pressure on space in the North Sea continues to increase.
Annet has been committed to a strong Dutch shipping industry as director of the Royal Association of Dutch Shipowners since 2018. For her efforts on behalf of seafarers during COVID-19, she received the Rotterdam honorary title of Port Woman of the Year in 2020. Awaiting the offshore day in June, we asked Annet about her views on the challenges in and on the North Sea.
What is the importance of proper allocation of space between sectors?
Proper allocation of space at sea is essential to ensure that all sectors can operate efficiently but, above all, safely. It is crucial, however, not to lose sight of the guiding principle of the North Sea Agreement (striking a balance between nature, energy, food, and shared use). For shipowners, guaranteeing shipping safety is crucial in the distribution of the North Sea. In addition, the North Sea is a vulnerable area in terms of nature and sea life. Although many human activities are possible, these vulnerabilities must be considered.
There must always be sufficient room for navigation
What is one of the current issues with offshore windfarms that needs to be solved regarding maritime space distribution?
Wind farms are increasingly being built close to traffic separation systems, raising questions about maritime safety. In recent years, we have seen several incidents where, for example, vessels ended up in a wind farm due to a combination of engine problems and severe storms. For shipowners, the ship’s and crew’s safety is the first priority. In comparable situations, there must always be sufficient room for navigation, including clear contingency routes in an emergency.
Measures must be implemented preventively, instead of waiting for a disaster to happen
How can we solve this issue?
When allocating space, the basis is that sectors make good agreements with each other. The KVNR sees a need for concrete solutions and calls for several measures, such as adequate VTS coverage (maritime traffic control), availability of emergency response vessels at wind farms, and coordination with our neighboring countries. These measures must be taken preventively instead of waiting for a disaster to implementing them. That way, we ensure that ships can sail safely now and in the future.
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