Germany has mandated that offshore wind farms located along its northern coast install radar systems to bolster the surveillance of both ships and drones, according to a Reuters report. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) officially confirmed this directive on April 2, 2025.
This decision is a response to increasing security concerns stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and heightened awareness of potential threats to critical infrastructure. Authorities have noted an uptick in vessels operating with their navigation systems turned off, which complicates tracking their movements.
The issue of maritime security has been further highlighted by incidents such as Finland’s Coast Guard reporting disruptions to satellite navigation signals in the Baltic Sea, as well as instances of tankers falsifying their location data. Recently, German authorities initiated customs proceedings against the tanker Eventin after it was found adrift in German waters, with the European Union suspecting the vessel’s involvement in Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to circumvent oil sanctions.
A BSH spokesperson verified a report by Bild newspaper, confirming that offshore wind farms are now required to install radar systems. The new security standards, which were published in late January and are set to take effect in 2025, stipulate that wind farm operators must install advanced radar technology on suitable structures and share the collected data with authorities.
Nico Nolte, an official from the BSH, explained that the collected data will primarily be used to enhance the security of transport routes and will also be transmitted to the federal maritime security center in Cuxhaven, responsible for overseeing the safety and security of Germany’s coastline.
Source: Reuters
