Audible response

Danish Ports' consultation response regarding draft amendments to the Maritime Spatial Plan

Danish Ports acknowledges the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the Maritime Spatial Plan.

• Danske Havne takes a positive view of the amendments with the added designation of a number of specific shipping lanes/routes. The changes have made it clearer that there is an active shipping channel and that it is proposed to designate it as such.
• Conversely, it seems inappropriate to delete shipping lanes in Horsens and Mariager fjords. Having a specific fairway/navigation route in the Marine Plan will be an advantage when it needs to be maintained and possibly deepened in connection with the development of shipping with larger ships. the development in shipping with larger ships that go deeper.
• The new layouts for different types of marine productions must take into account the local port and the existing navigation and sailing routes.
• The navigation from the commercial ports to the folding platforms must not be hindered or made difficult by the new layouts, and they must not prevent the continued establishment of new folding platforms within easy sailing distance from the ports, so that port operations are not disrupted in the future due to lack of space on the folding platforms.
• Danish Ports wants a dialog/meeting to clarify the handling and delimitation of layouts very close to the commercial ports' revetments, shipping channels and in the transition between port and sea.
  

VRegarding the Port of Horsens:

The Port of Horsens is a port that handles an average of 780,000 tons of cargo per year (2018-2022), and removing the shipping corridor could help reduce the importance of the port. This is despite the intention stated in the Maritime Spatial Plan agreement: "No new obstacles to navigation are introduced with the issuance of the Executive Order on Denmark's Maritime Spatial Plan. Unless otherwise stipulated by other legislation, it is still possible to sail freely on the entire Danish sea area. The Maritime Spatial Plan designates shipping corridors, including where there are existing infrastructure and transit routes and where the most important traffic flows are located."

In the Horsens Fjord area, other area designations have been added:

Development zone for culture and transplantation banks for the production of mussels and oysters (Ak) - Ak2 Development zone for mussel and oyster farming in the water column (Ao) - Ao75

A continued shipping corridor to Horsens becomes even more important to ensure that shipping does not conflict with marine production near the shipping channel. It therefore seems inappropriate to remove the shipping corridor to Horsens. A removal may also contribute to reducing the port's business opportunities and development in the future. Danske Havne wants the proposal to remove the shipping corridor to the Port of Horsens to be deleted. Alternatively, it should be decided to adapt the existing corridor in collaboration with the Port of Horsens.

Regarding the Port of Hobro:

In Mariager Fjord, there is a similar problem as described for Horsens above. Danske Havne wants the proposal to remove the shipping corridor to the Port of Hobro deleted. Alternatively, an adaptation of the existing corridor in collaboration with the Port of Hobro. Danish Ports also refers to the consultation response regarding the Action Program for the Maritime Plan for further comments, for example on the designated protection zones.

Regarding the waters around Ærø and Assens Port of Assens:

The draft proposes a number of changes to the designations, which generally seem sensible. In the South Funen Archipelago, large areas have also been designated as protected areas. Overall, this must not mean that it is not possible to designate enough slipways within an acceptable sailing distance from the ports of Ærø and Assens. There is already a challenge today with a lack of capacity in the area.

Kind regards,
Camilla Rosenhagen
Danish Ports