Adrift cargo ship damages turbine foundation at Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm

The bulk carrier Julietta D became adrift in an anchorage area north of the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm after suffering a hull breach in a collision with another vessel. The ship took on water in its engine room and its 18-person crew was evacuated by helicopter. The vessel then drifted rudderless through the wind farm site for several hours, during which it struck one of the thirty-four already installed monopile foundations and also collided with the jacket of a TenneT transformer platform. An aerial inspection the following day revealed damage, although Vattenfall said further inspections were required to determine the extent. The developer and its contractors had no personnel or vessels in the area at the time. The Julietta D was later towed to the port of Rotterdam. A number of people aboard a tugboat and a rescue boat involved in the response suffered minor injuries.

The cargo ship suffered a hull breach after colliding with another vessel near an anchorage area adjacent to the wind farm, took on water in its engine room and drifted rudderless through the construction site for several hours before being towed away.

1. Anchorage areas located near offshore wind farm construction sites carry collision risk if vessels lose power or steering control.
2. Offshore developers should maintain contingency and communication plans with maritime authorities for drifting vessel incidents affecting installed infrastructure.
3. Response operations involving tugs and rescue craft in adverse sea conditions carry their own injury risk and should be factored into emergency planning.
4. Aerial and subsea inspection arrangements should be ready to assess foundation and platform integrity promptly after third-party vessel strikes.

offshorewind.biz/2022/02/02/vattenfall-shows-damage-caused-by-cargo-ship-...