Working Conditions Aboard the Wind-Lift-1

On April 28, 2016, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the 'Wind Lift 1' encountered a hazardous situation while traveling from Emden to the Bard Offshore 1 wind farm. A smoldering fire erupted in a switchbox, leading to a partial power outage on the vessel. Fortunately, the skilled crew acted swiftly and successfully extinguished the fire using onboard resources. By the morning of April 29, the jack-up rig safely returned to Emden, docking at the Ems Quay at around 6 a.m. to undergo the necessary repairs.

On January 25, 2012, at approximately 9:15 a.m., a construction worker tragically fell from a boat landing during the foundation work of a wind turbine located 55 nautical miles north-northwest of Borkum. The incident prompted an immediate search operation led by the vessel 'Wind Lift I', which served as the On-Scene Coordinator. Support from local lifeboats, including the 'Alfried Krupp' from the DGzRS station in Borkum and the 'Hannes Glogner' from Norderney, as well as a German Navy SAR helicopter and a police helicopter, was quickly mobilized. The police helicopter successfully rescued another individual involved in the accident, along with an injured crew member from the 'Wind Lift I', and transported both to Helgoland for medical attention. Meanwhile, the SAR helicopter deployed a team of divers to assist in the search for the missing worker. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were challenging, with southeast winds reaching six Beaufort and speeds of up to 50 km/h. Looking ahead, representatives from the offshore industry are scheduled to convene at the GMRS headquarters in Bremen on Thursday. The meeting will address lifesaving strategies and present policy plans for the establishment of US-funded emergency control room operators specifically tailored for offshore wind farm operations.