U.S. Coast Guard Issues Warning After Wind Turbine Blade Breaks Off at Vineyard Wind Farm

The U.S. Coast Guard has advised mariners to exercise extreme caution following reports of a 300-foot-long piece of debris in the water near where an offshore wind turbine blade broke off at the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm off Nantucket, Rhode Island.

Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partner, reported that the turbine blade broke off Thursday morning, following a blade failure on Saturday. Debris has since washed ashore in Nantucket, leading to the closure of some beaches.

“This morning, a significant part of the remaining GE Vernova blade detached from the turbine. Maritime crews were onsite overnight preparing to respond to this development, though current weather conditions create a difficult working environment. Despite these challenging weather conditions, a fleet of vessels remains at sea managing the situation and working to remove bulk debris. We have deployed additional crews to Nantucket Island in anticipation that more debris could wash ashore tonight and tomorrow as we continue to monitor additional coastal communities,” Vineyard Wind said in a statement Thursday.

“We are staying apprised of GE Vernova’s efforts to manage the situation, including the removal and recovery of the remaining blade attached to the turbine. With public officials, we will continue to keep the islands informed of developments as we work closely with state, federal, local, and tribal partners to respond to this evolving situation, with the safety of our personnel, the public, and the environment as our highest priority,” the statement added.

The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a Suspension Order to Vineyard Wind, halting all power production and new construction of wind turbines due to the blade failure. Operations will remain suspended until further notice. Additionally, a Preservation Order has been issued to protect evidence related to the incident.

read more at gcaptain.com.