High winds at the Port of Esbjerg caused a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) to collide with another vessel and port infrastructure, damaging nine offshore wind blades bound for RWE's 1.1GW Thor offshore wind farm, according to Splash247. The Fred. Olsen Windcarrier-owned Brave Tern struck Cadeler's Wind Keeper, a crane, and a pier on Wednesday morning, June 10. One person was sent to the hospital for a checkup. The Danish Maritime Authority detained the vessel following the incident.
Incident Details
The Brave Tern had just completed the load-out of nine blades for installation at the Thor wind farm. While attempting to manoeuvre in the harbour, the vessel was pushed into the other ship and a shore crane due to high winds and poor weather conditions. An inspection was carried out on both vessels, and the port infrastructure was checked for any additional damage. The value of each damaged blade is estimated at approximately €3.6m ($4.15m), implying a total potential loss of about €32.4m.
The Brave Tern is a WTIV built in 2012. It measures 132 m in length and can carry up to 9,000 tonnes of material. The vessel was upgraded in 2024 to carry a 1,600-tonne crane and can accommodate three complete turbine sets per trip.
Impact on Thor Offshore Wind Farm
The Thor offshore wind farm, located approximately 20 km offshore, will be Denmark's largest offshore wind farm, consisting of 72 15MW turbines. Turbine installation work began in March, with installation scheduled for completion this year. Splash247 reported that it remains unknown whether the incident will delay work on the wind farm. Shippers and logistics operators involved in offshore wind projects should monitor developments closely, as any delays in blade delivery could affect the installation schedule.
Operational Implications
- Port Operations: The Port of Esbjerg, a key hub for offshore wind logistics, may experience temporary congestion or restrictions while investigations and repairs are underway.
- Vessel Availability: The detention of the Brave Tern removes a major installation vessel from the market, potentially affecting other projects reliant on WTIV capacity.
- Cargo Damage: Nine blades are damaged, requiring replacement manufacturing and transport, which could take weeks or months.
- Insurance Claims: The €3.6m per blade value will trigger significant insurance claims, possibly affecting premiums for offshore wind cargo.
Watch List
- Danish Maritime Authority investigation: Outcome and any safety recommendations.
- Vessel release timeline: When the Brave Tern will be cleared for operations.
- Blade replacement schedule: How quickly RWE and its suppliers can produce and deliver new blades.
- Port of Esbjerg congestion: Any knock-on effects on other wind farm projects using the port.
Key Details at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident date | June 10, 2026 |
| Location | Port of Esbjerg, Denmark |
| Vessels involved | Brave Tern (Fred. Olsen Windcarrier) and Wind Keeper (Cadeler) |
| Damaged cargo | Nine offshore wind blades for RWE's Thor wind farm |
| Blade value | ~€3.6m each ($4.15m) |
| Injuries | One person sent to hospital for checkup |
| Vessel status | Detained by Danish Maritime Authority |
| Wind farm | Thor, 1.1 GW, 72 x 15 MW turbines, 20 km offshore |
| Installation schedule | Began March 2026, completion expected in 2026 (status uncertain) |
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