Five workers injured in installation vessel accident at Triton Knoll wind farm

Five people were injured overnight on 8 May 2020 while working aboard the Seaway Strashnov, an installation vessel operated by Seaway Heavy Lifting, at the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm construction site about 32 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast, UK. All five were airlifted to hospital for assessment and treatment. Three were discharged the following day, a fourth was discharged a few days later, and one remained in hospital recovering at the time of reporting. The vessel and its remaining crew returned to port on 10 May while an investigation into the cause was launched. Innogy, the wind farm operator, and Subsea 7, the parent company of Seaway Heavy Lifting, both confirmed the incident and said they were cooperating with the relevant authorities. Neither company disclosed how the workers were injured, citing the ongoing investigation. The 857MW project was under construction and is jointly owned by innogy, J-Power and Kansai Electric Power, with innogy managing construction and long-term operation.

Not reported. The cause of the accident was under investigation at the time of reporting and was not disclosed by either company.

1. Offshore construction spreads need tested arrangements for multiple simultaneous casualties, including helicopter medical evacuation from a working installation vessel at night.
2. A multi-casualty event should trigger a stand-down of the affected operation, with the vessel returned to port, so that evidence is preserved and work does not resume before the immediate hazard is understood.
3. Where a marine contractor works for a wind farm owner, investigation and reporting duties between vessel operator, project operator and the regulator should be agreed before mobilisation rather than settled after an event.

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