A trapped seal has put Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s emergency procedure to the test on a wind farm construction project in the German North Sea.
It was a story with a happy ending both for the seal and the team from Fred. Olsen Windcarriers’ jack-up Brave Tern, after the distressed mammal was spotted, taking refuge in the jacking pin hole of one of the vessel’s legs, after becoming entangled in some discarded netting.
Brave Tern had just finished jacking up at the Global Tech 1 site when technicians across the gangway on the turbine foundation saw the seal in trouble.
They raised the alarm and the Master launched the fast response boat to see if the seal could be freed.
The coxwain manoeuvred the boat to allow the crew to reach the seal and lift it on board. They carefully removed the net and returned the seal to the sea. It swam a few metres and then paused to look back – as if to give a ‘thank you’ nod – before heading for the open water.
Despite this interruption, the project remains within the schedule.