UK: Standby Vessel Hits Wind Farm Pile, Springs Leak

Danish-registered standby safety vessel, OMS Pollux, collided with a pile supporting a turbine yesterday at Walney Wind Farm, off Barrow-in-Furness.  The vessel has since been leaking marine gas oil (diesel),  the UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency said yesterday.

The Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call at 9:05 yesterday morning reporting that a ship collided with a turbine pile and has since joined coordinating the recovery of the damaged ship.

The Nordic Offshore Marine’s vessel, with a crew of around 18 on board, was last reported afloat and there were no reported injuries.

OMS Pollux has moved under its own power to its current location north of the Port of Liverpool limits, and away from environmentally sensitive areas.

The Barrow lifeboat attended the incident and the ship was escorted in relay by the Barrow, Lytham and Hoylake lifeboats.

The fixed-wing aircraft from Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s counter pollution team has made a flypast and reports that a surface sheen, 5-10 metres wide and around 0.7 nautical miles in length is trailing the vessel.

Unlike heavier forms of fuel, marine gas oil should evaporate or disperse naturally.

The OMS Pollux will remain offshore outside the Liverpool Port Authority limits until the leak has been stopped, the Coast Guard said.

The multi-agency Environment Group set up to respond to this type of incident – and comprising local authorities, emergency services, government agencies and other stakeholders – is assessing the local situation.

The Liverpool MRCC said it was  in constant contact with the vessel and was also monitoring the situation.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.

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Press Release, August 15, 2014; Image: Nordic Offshore