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Wind (offshore)DenmarkEIR-0256

Vessel collision at Port of Esbjerg damages nine wind turbine blades

June 2026Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantMechanicalProvisional1100 MW
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
turbine out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Port of Esbjerg, Denmark
What
Vessel collision damages nine wind turbine blades
Injuries
One person taken to hospital for check-up
Cause
High winds and poor weather conditions
Outcome
Nine blades damaged, each worth about €3.6m

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Fred. Olsen Windcarrier

What happened

On 10 June 2026, the wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Brave Tern, owned by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, struck Cadeler's vessel Wind Keeper, a shore crane and a pier while manoeuvring in high winds at the Port of Esbjerg, Denmark. The vessel had just completed load-out of nine turbine blades destined for RWE's 1.1GW Thor offshore wind farm, and the collision damaged all nine blades. Local media reported that one person was taken to hospital for a check-up.

The Danish Maritime Authority detained the Brave Tern following the incident and inspected both vessels and the port infrastructure for further damage. Each blade is estimated to be worth approximately €3.6m. It remains unclear whether the incident will delay installation work on the Thor wind farm, which began in March 2026 and is scheduled for completion this year.

Contributing factors

High winds and poor weather conditions during harbour manoeuvring were cited as contributing to the collision.

Lessons learned

  1. High winds during port manoeuvring of a loaded WTIV can cause collisions with other vessels, cranes and piers, so operators must enforce wind limits specific to vessel size and load.
  2. Damage to high-value turbine blades in port can create supply and schedule risks for an offshore wind farm even before installation starts.

More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the collision
  • Whether the incident will delay Thor wind farm installation
  • Model and age of the two vessels

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

splash247.com

Site page: Thor Offshore wind farm (status, dates and other incidents)

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Wind (offshore) incidents by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Wind (offshore) incidents in Denmark: 3 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Wind turbine fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: wind turbine blade failures and offshore wind incidents.

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