Injuries incurred as crew transfer vessel collides with cargo vessel

Wind turbine technicians on a crew transfer vessel operating on the Wikinger offshore windfarm in Germany are understood to have been injured following a collision with another vessel.

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, World Marine Offshore said crew transfer vessel World Bora had collided with Cyprus-flagged general cargo vessel Raba at 07.35 hours on 19 February.

“World Bora was on its way to the Wikinger offshore windfarm with passengers onboard,” said the company. “World Bora and Raba were able to return to port under their own power with minor damage to the upper part of their hulls.”

The company said the passengers and crew of World Bora had been taken to hospital for check ups.

World Marine Offshore said it had initiated a ‘full and thorough investigation’ in co-operation with local and Danish authorities.

Press reports from Germany said at least 15 people were injured when the collision occurred near the German island of Rügen.

A spokesperson for the authorities told Deutsche Welle that 10 people were ‘seriously injured,’ all of them on board the World Bora.

The newspaper said it was not immediately clear what caused the crash. Officials said no fuel from either ship had leaked into the water.