New Tool to Reduce Negative Impact of Crew Transfer on Offshore Wind Workers

A European project coordinated by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has been completed with a new tool introduced to reduce the impact of crew transfer in rough waters on wellbeing of offshore wind workers.

Along with the sail/no sail decision-support tool for marine coordinators, the project also resulted in a new understanding of seasickness and how it develops, according to ORE Catapult.

“The model and tool will improve the health, safety and wellbeing of technicians and the productivity of offshore wind farms, allowing wind farm marine coordinators to make more informed decisions on vessel design for particular sites and when to authorise transits”, said Andrew Stormonth-Darling, ORE Catapult’s Project Manager.

The two-year EUR 3.6 million project, funded through DemoWind2, was completed in March 2020.

Studies were carried out, both in the field and in controlled conditions, on various vessel types to understand how they behave in different weather conditions. Empirical data was also gathered directly from the technicians themselves during transit over a period of several months.

“For the first time, we have used data, gathered in laboratories and out in the field, to truly understand the psychological and physiological impacts on offshore wind farm technicians during transit”, Andrew Stormonth-Darling said.

The project involved seven partners from across Europe, including Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), the University of Hull, marine coordinators SMC Ltd, Dutch research institutes MARIN and TNO, and BMO Offshore, a data service provider to the offshore wind industry.