Cargo ship collides with turbine at Ørsted's Gode Wind 1 offshore wind farm

On 24 April 2023 a general cargo ship, later identified as the Antigua-flagged Petra L, collided with a wind turbine at Ørsted's Gode Wind 1 offshore wind farm in the North Sea, about 33 km off the German islands of Juist and Norderney. The vessel sustained a 5 by 3 metre hole in its starboard hull and reported water ingress before continuing to port in Emden, Germany, where German water police began an investigation. Ørsted confirmed its in-house control centre recorded the collision, though the vessel did not make contact with maritime surveillance beforehand. No injuries were reported. The affected turbine was taken out of operation pending further investigation into the cause of the collision.

The exact cause of the collision had not been determined at the time of reporting; German authorities and other relevant institutions were investigating, including interviewing the cargo ship's crew.

1. Offshore wind farms sited near shipping lanes should ensure robust vessel tracking and early-warning systems to detect vessels on collision courses.
2. Operators should have clear protocols for rapidly isolating and inspecting turbines struck by vessels to prevent further damage or hazard.
3. Cross-border coordination between maritime authorities and wind farm operators is important for timely incident investigation when a vessel involved in a collision continues to a different port.

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