Major emergency response putsOffshore renewables industry to the test
3/11/25, 12:30 PM
Organised by the Offshore Renewable Energy Emergency Forum (OREEF), the TRIREX (triennial renewables exercise), brings together various authorities, regulators and stakeholders to conduct boundary pushing emergency exercises.
Conducted at Moray East Offshore Windfarm, ‘Exercise Blyth’ brought together Ocean Winds (operator), Police Scotland, HM Coastguard, vessel operator Esvagt, turbine manufacturer Vestas and others to test coordinated emergency response systems and protocols - strengthening preparedness across the renewables sector, government, and emergency services for a major offshore incident.
The two-day exercise, conducted earlier this year, revolved around a fictional scenario involving two injured persons, one fatally and missing persons after a vessel struck a wind turbine following a machinery failure. Real-life resources, such as SAR Helicopter and actors onshore, were deployed to ensure the exercise felt as realistic as possible.
Teams coordinated on response protocols, information flows and an emergency media conference scenario, with the work helping to streamline the actions of individual teams and refine the broader multi-agency response to an emergency.
Evaluators highlighted the strengths of individual teams in the exercise to carry out their duties, and the need for greater inter-agency coordination during these complex multi-stakeholder incidents to ensure continuous improvement.
Gemma McDonald, Senior Health and Safety Manager at Ocean Winds, said:
“Participating in Exercise Blyth gave us a valuable opportunity to truly test our emergency procedures and identify practical improvements - from communications flow and decision-making to handovers between command and on-scene teams and managing an evacuation reception centre.
“It also enabled government and emergency services to better understand how our industry operates in an emergency, strengthening joint protocols, terminology, and lines of coordination, so it’s a genuine learning opportunity for everyone involved.
“Safety remains our top priority at Ocean Winds, and we’re grateful to our partners and the multi-agency teams for making this possible.”
Sarah Bray, Chair OREEF (Offshore Renewable Energy Emergency Forum), said:
“As a part of the TRIREX series of exercises organised through OREEF, Exercise Blyth’s value lies both in the collaboration of industry stakeholders working together to bring it to life, and in the real-world application of the important lessons learned coming out of it.
“Exercise Blyth represents a significant contribution to the continuous improvement of emergency preparedness and response in the renewables sector, aligning fully with the aims of OREEF itself.”
Pete Lowson, Head of Operational Procedures and Information Management at HM Coastguard said:
"Following the previous success of Exercise Sancho, it was a pleasure and a priviledge to once again lead a fantastic team in the development and delivery of Exercise Blyth.
“Thank you to everyone involved, from planning, evaluation, and command teams to those who role-played, observed, supported and participated. I hope this exercise leaves a lastign legacy for the industry and was a positive experience for all involved.”
You can find the exercise report here: Exercise Blyth Post-Exercise Report
There will also be a Q&A session hosted by HM Coastguard on Tuesday 4th November at 3pm on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Widesight
Note to editors: https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/risk-collision-offshore-installations-attendant-vessels.htm
Media Contact: Ocean Winds - communications@oceanwinds.com
Moray East Key Facts
- Consent for construction of up to 1,116MW granted in 2016
- CfD for 950MW awarded in 2017
- Connection to National Grid at a new substation to be constructed at New Deer in Aberdeenshire via underground cable (planning permission granted by Aberdeenshire Council in 2014)
- Total underground export cable corridor route 86km (52km offshore and 34km onshore)
- Total wind farm Area – 295km2
- Maximum turbine blade-tip height – 204m (669 feet)
- Minimum distance from shore – 22km (13.5 miles).