Renewables vessel poses threat to the environment

The evacuation took place on 27-Jan-2016 at approximately 03:10am off the North Sea coast by a lifeboat from Hvide Sande. The vessel was was in transit to Esbjerg.

A2SEA explained that the SEA WORKER was caught by an adverse weather window and as a result "the tow line between SEA WORKER and the tug boat broke and the vessel drifted towards the coast. Shortly after the evacuation, SEA WORKER grounded off the coast at Nymindegab south of Hvide Sande."

A special operations team and vessels ESVAGT CONNECTOR and EMILE ROBIN are now onsite closely following the situation. Moreover, environmental vessel GUNNAR SEIDENFADEN is on call in the Port of Hvide Sande ready to respond if any development occurs.

A2SEA stated that now the focus remains on preventing any oils or fuels leaking from the vessel and as soon as weather permits, removal of such substances. The substance are used to power machines during the construction of offshore wind farms.

The vessel was inspected yesterday by the Danish Coast authorities to confirm whether any pollutants have leaked and to collect images of the vessel. They reported that no such substances have escaped however the site will be monitored and assessed for salvage.

The vessel broke away from its tow line Wednesday last week during extreme weather conditions whilst in transit to the Port of  Esbjerg. She ended up being grounded and investigations revealed that the jacking system was damaged.

The vessel was last working on Gunfleet sands offshore wind farm during operation Hercules, a Siemens retro fit campaign on the 172.8MW wind farm.

SEA WORKER was a jack-up barge equipped to operate in the offshore wind sector. It had a 400-tonne offshore crane, and has been used to install a wide range of equipment such as monopiles, transition pieces and offshore wind turbines. SEA WORKER is 55.5m in length with a breadth of 32.20m with the capability of rising some 40m above the water surface on 73 metre long legs. This vessel was fitted with a state-of-the-art LPS system (Leg Penetration System) and had air-cooled jacking and auxiliary engines, enabling her to operate on sites that dry out at low tide.

She has also been used on the installation of EnBW Baltic 1’s 22 foundations, working with the 250-tonne monopile foundations.

A2SEA maintains and operates its own fleet of vessels and equipment and carry out many types of offshore wind installations and operations. They have according to their website "the greatest capacity of any company in the offshore wind industry and continue to make significant investments in larger and more flexible vessels for the future".

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Images courtesy of Forsvaret for Danmark, 1.Eskadre.