The Dutch Safety Board says it has initiated an investigation into the “increasing congestion” caused by wind farms and shipping in the North Sea.
The safety board, which investigates shipping, aviation, railway and industrial accidents in the Dutch State, said that “the construction of wind farms, among other things, and the increase in shipping with increasingly larger ships” means the North Sea is becoming busier.
It said it will “investigate the risks associated with the increasing use of the North Sea and what effect this may have on the safety of shipping in the area”.
The Dutch Safety Board said that the reason for this research was the drift of the Maltese bulk carrier Julietta D during Storm Corrie in late January 2022.
“ During the drift towards the Dutch coast, the bulk carrier first hit another ship and then two structures of a wind farm under construction,” it said.
The collision occurred after Julietta D’s anchor failed as Storm Corrie whipped up the North Sea. The second ship, Pechora Star, was reported stable and not taking on water, but Julietta D started sinking, and the crew of 18 was rescued by the Dutch Coast Guard.
The Dutch Safety Board said the Maltese investigative body, Transport Malta, is also investigating this incident and is focusing specifically on the collision.