Image: KNRM
Three crew members have been injured after the offshore supply vessel Glomar Venture collided with a wind turbine in Dutch waters, approximately 24 kilometers off the coast of Callantsoog, according to the Netherlands Coastguard.
The incident occurred on 20 April and involved the Glomar Venture, an offshore supply vessel operated by Glomar Offshore. A spokesperson for the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM) confirmed to reNEWS that the vessel made contact with a wind turbine within a Dutch offshore wind farm.
Emergency response teams were promptly dispatched following the collision. Lifeboats from KNRM’s Egmond station, along with the Dutch Coastguard vessel Guardian, responded to the scene. Two of the injured crew members were stabilized on-site and transported to shore on the Joke Dijkstra rescue boat, where they were met by ambulances and transferred to a local hospital. A third injured individual managed to reach a hospital independently.
The vessel, showing signs of damage, was subsequently escorted by rescue units to the port of Den Helder. The KNRM and Coastguard coordinated the recovery operation to ensure both vessel and crew reached shore safely.
A spokesperson from the KNRM stated that the situation had been stabilized at sea before the transport operation commenced, minimizing further risk to the crew and environment.
Authorities have not yet released details regarding the cause of the incident or the extent of the damage to the wind turbine involved. An investigation is expected to be launched to determine how the collision occurred and whether navigational or technical issues contributed to the incident.
Glomar Offshore, which operates a fleet of offshore support vessels for the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors, has not issued a formal public statement at the time of reporting. Industry observers will be watching closely as safety protocols, vessel conditions, and operating procedures come under scrutiny.
The offshore wind farm where the incident occurred has not been officially named, but the region is home to several operational wind projects, making this a notable event for the maritime and renewable sectors operating in the North Sea.
This incident raises questions about navigational safety in increasingly crowded offshore energy zones, where support vessels and infrastructure must coexist in tight quarters. While collisions involving offshore wind turbines are rare, they highlight the challenges of operating complex logistics in dynamic marine environments.
As offshore wind projects continue to expand in European waters, ensuring clear communication, up-to-date navigation systems, and rigorous training for vessel operators will be vital to preventing similar incidents in the future.
Source: renews
