UK: Rampion Met Mast Mistaken for Ship in Distress

The meteorological mast installed offshore East Sussex to survey the planned wind farm site has been causing 999 calls, reported BBC.

Mast’s flashing red and white lights look like a ship’s mayday call, but actually it is signaling a warning to ships in Morse code.

Watch officer at Solent Coastguard, Karen Bosman said: “Obviously we don’t want to discourage people from calling in,” said Ms Bosman.

“This mast is 110m high so it’s quite visible, so we’re getting an awful lot of calls about this vessel in distress.

“Thank goodness we know exactly where it is and the sequence of the flashing lights, so it would be a simple task to determine from the informant as to whether it’s the wind farm or not.”

The mast, which is installed in April, is expected to measure wind speed, wave height and sea currents.

After it is completed, the wind farm could generate enough electricity for the domestic needs of the equivalent of around 450,000 homes.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, May 16, 2012; Image: fugrorenewables