Offshore wind collisions - costly claims and legal complexity

Herman Steen and Gisken Andersen, of Wikborg Rein, report on a growing risk to shipping from the proliferation of offshore wind farms

The construction of offshore wind farms near busy shipping routes has already resulted in a number of collisions. With an increasing number of offshore wind projects being planned, the collision risk is expected to rise. Claims are often substantial, as each turbine can cost tens of millions of dollars and an offshore substation can cost several hundred million dollars. In addition there may be significant production losses. Offshore wind collisions furthermore raise a range of complex and, in many respects, unsettled legal issues.