NLAI recently successfully completed a major Navigational Risk Assessment (NRA) for SaxaVord Spaceport, which is located on the northernmost tip of the Shetland Islands. The assessment supports their application for a marine licence to carry out vertical launch operations into orbit and sub-orbit from the island of Unst.
Led by Associate Director Al Wilson, the project brings together NLAI’s deep understanding of maritime activity, stakeholder engagement and risk management to ensure that rocket launches from SaxaVord can take place safely and responsibly in one of the most remote and complex marine environments in the UK.
What We Did
The NRA focused on understanding how rocket launches might impact shipping, fishing, and other marine activities around the spaceport, and how best to reduce those risks. It involved a detailed review of vessel movements in the surrounding waters—spanning the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean—as well as consultation with a wide range of maritime users, from ferry operators and fishers to offshore energy companies.
NLAI analysed a range of potential hazards, from falling rocket components to emergency scenarios, and used this analysis to recommend clear control measures to keep people and vessels safe. These include temporary exclusion zones during launches, enhanced marine communications, and active monitoring using radar, AIS and dedicated safety boats.
What the NRA Contains
The NRA is both comprehensive and forward-looking and includes:
The document also considers wider environmental and regulatory factors, drawing on UK and international maritime law, including the latest guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority and Maritime & Coastguard Agency.
Why This Matters
As spaceports become a growing feature of the UK’s coastal landscape, NRAs like this one are becoming a vital part of ensuring safe coexistence between sea and space. Launches don’t just happen on land—they pass over sensitive marine areas, shipping routes and fishing grounds. A well-structured NRA helps operators understand and manage that overlap.
It also ensures that the concerns of maritime communities are heard and addressed early, rather than after operations begin.
Project lead Al Wilson said, “SaxaVord represents a bold step forward for the UK’s space ambitions, but it’s taking that step with full respect for those who live and work at sea. This NRA shows that space launches and safe, sustainable maritime activity can—and must—go hand in hand.”
You can access the NRA report on the Scottish Government website here.
If you require NRA or related services, please contact us.
