Discover the Arctic-Ocean: Ratings & Maritime News

The support vessel OMS Pollux, which experienced an allision with one of the turbines at DONG Energy’s Walney Offshore Windfarm, has successfully entered Liverpool docks following a 36-hour period of circling in the Irish Sea. The vessel docked at Birkenhead on August 15 around 4 p.m., where it will undergo necessary repairs. Fortunately, initial assessments indicate that the damage to the turbine was superficial. However, a minor diesel spill was detected on the sea surface near the collision site, although it was not deemed significant enough to require any special intervention. For further details and visual coverage of the incident, please visit these links: [RNLI News](http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/THREE-LIFEBOATS-AID-WIND-FARM-SUPPORT-VESSEL-REFUSED-ENTRY-TO-IRISH-SEA-PORTS.aspx) and [Photos](http://rnli.org/Pages/Photograph-Detail.aspx?MainImageUrl=%2fPhotoLibrary%2f2014-08-14+pollux+2.JPG) and [Additional Images](http://rnli.org/Pages/Photograph-Detail.aspx?MainImageUrl=%2fPhotoLibrary%2fOMS+POLLUX+14.08.2014+from+Lytham+LB+by+Jon+Trevorrow+02.JPG).

On August 14, 2014, the offshore vessel "OMS Pollux" experienced an unfortunate allision with a concrete pile of a wind turbine at the Walney Wind Farm, located off Barrow-in-Furness. While anchored approximately 12 miles west of the wind farm, the vessel's anchor unexpectedly parted, causing it to drift into a turbine structure currently under construction. The flood tide pushed the ship against the pile, resulting in damage to the port side beneath the waterline, which led to a light fuel oil discharge into the surrounding waters. The Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was alerted about the situation, noting that the standby safety vessel was leaking diesel. In response, a fixed-wing aircraft from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s counter pollution division conducted an aerial assessment, revealing a surface sheen measuring between 5 to 10 meters wide and extending around 0.7 nautical miles behind the vessel. With roughly 18 crew members onboard, the "OMS Pollux" remained afloat and there were no reported injuries. The vessel managed to navigate under its own power to a position north of the Port of Liverpool limits, away from sensitive environmental areas. The Barrow lifeboat was dispatched at 10:25 a.m. and arrived on the scene by 11 a.m., confirming that the vessel was not taking on water. Following this initial assessment, the Liverpool Coastguard instructed the lifeboat to maintain a standby position while coordinating with Barrow Port Control, which denied entry to the Port of Barrow due to the ongoing fuel leak. The lifeboat escorted the vessel toward Liverpool with assistance from the Lytham and Hoylake lifeboats. After handing over the escort 12 miles west of the River Ribble, the Barrow lifeboat returned to station. The "OMS Pollux" will remain anchored offshore, outside Liverpool Port Authority limits, until the fuel leak is remedied. Meanwhile, the Liverpool MRCC kept in constant communication with the vessel, monitoring the situation closely. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been notified. Experts anticipate that the diesel should naturally evaporate or disperse over time. In the afternoon, a multi-agency Environment Group convened to evaluate the local condition, which was favorable with clear skies, no wind, and a flooding tide expected to peak at 2:50 p.m. at a height of 9.5 meters.