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Support vessel safe in port after allision

The "OMS Pollux" which allided with one of the turbines at DONG Energy’s Walney Offshore Windfarm was allowed to enter Liverpool docks after a 36-hour wait, circling in the Irish Sea, and arrived at Birkenhead on Aug 15 at around 4 p.m. where it will be repaired. The damage to the turbine has only been superficial. A small diesel spillage has been spotted on the surface of the sea next to where the collision took place but was not thought serious enough to warrant special attention. Reports and photos: http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/THREE-LIFEBOATS-AID-WIND-FARM-SUPPORT-VESSEL-REFUSED-ENTRY-TO-IRISH-SEA-PORTS.aspx http://rnli.org/Pages/Photograph-Detail.aspx?MainImageUrl=%2fPhotoLibrary%2f2014-08-14+pollux+2.JPG http://rnli.org/Pages/Photograph-Detail.aspx?MainImageUrl=%2fPhotoLibrary%2fOMS+POLLUX+14.08.2014+from+Lytham+LB+by+Jon+Trevorrow+02.JPG

Offshore vessel allided with turbine pile

The "OMS Pollux" allided with a wind turbine pile at Walney Wind Farm, off Barrow-in-Furness, on Aug 14, 2014. The ship had been at anchor and engaged in operations 12 miles west of Walney when one anchor had suddenly parted, allowing the vessel to swing into a concrete pile of a wind turbine under construction. The ship was pushed onto it by the flood tide and suffered damage to the port side under the water line so that light fuel oil was being released into the sea. The Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call reporting that the standby safety vessel, has since been leaking diesel. The fixed-wing aircraft from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s counter pollution team has made a flypast and reported that a surface sheen, 5-10 m wide and around 0.7 nautical miles in length, was trailing the vessel. The vessel, with a crew of around 18 on board, remained afloat and there were no reported injuries. The “OMS Pollux” has moved under its own power to a position north of the Port of Liverpool limits and away from environmentally sensitive areas. The Barrow lifeboat at 10.25 a.m. attended the incident. The lifeboat arrived at the scene at 11 a.m. and quickly ascertained that the vessel was not taking on any water. The Liverpool Coastguard requested the lifeboat to stand by the casualty in case the situation altered and then contacted Barrow Port Control who refused permission for he vessel to enter the Port of Barrow due to the fuel leak. It was escorted towards Liverpool in relay by the Barrow, Lytham and Hoylake lifeboats. The Barrow crew handed over the escort to the Lytham crew, 12 miles west of the River Ribble, and the Barrow crew returned to station. The vessel would remain offshore outside the Liverpool Port Authority limits until the fuel leak has been stopped. The Liverpool MRCC was in constant contact with the vessel and was also monitoring the situation. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed. The diesel'should evaporate or disperse naturally. A multi-agency Environment Group set up to respond met in the afternoon to assess the local situation. The weather was fine and visibility was good, with no wind and a flooding tide which was expected to peak at 2-50 p.m. at a height of 9,5 metres.