Vessel Strike

The installation and maintenance of marine energy and offshore wind energy involves additional marine operations that may increase the risk of vessel strike, which is a collision between a vessel (e.g., boat, ship) and a marine animal in the ocean. Vessel strikes are an ongoing threat to many marine animals around the world, particularly in heavy traffic areas near ports, transit routes, and developed coastlines. Marine life, primarily marine mammals and sea turtles, that spend time near the sea surface or in areas where vessel routes overlap with key habitats have the potential to be struck by vessels. Animal behavior and other factors influence the likelihood of a vessel strike occurring and vary temporally, seasonally, spatially, by species, and in different environmental conditions. Potential mitigation measures such as protected species observers (PSOs), route restrictions, and vessel speed restrictions can reduce the risk of vessel strike. 

For more information relevant to offshore wind energy, check out the Presence of Vessels: Effects of Vessel Collision on Marine Life research brief produced by SEER.