A fishing vessel that sank after colliding with a wind turbine in the Yellow Sea failed to maintain a proper lookout, China’s maritime authority has concluded in an official report into the fatal incident.
The ZD Yuyun struck a turbine at the Qidong H1 offshore wind farm in the early hours of August 24, 2023, while returning from fishing operations, according to a report released by the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA).
Ten crew members were thrown overboard. Eight were rescued, while one crew member was confirmed dead and another remains missing.
The incident occurred around 12:25 a.m. local time, when the vessel hit the southeast side of the Qidong H1-40 turbine, causing significant flooding and the eventual sinking of the vessel. The turbine sustained only minor damage.
According to the MSA report, the accident was primarily caused by the crew’s “failure to maintain proper lookout and negligent navigation practices.” The report also noted that the use of high-intensity work lights on the vessel impeded visibility and that onboard radar equipment was not used effectively.
A secondary factor contributing to the incident was the “inadequate public notification of the wind farm’s precise layout by the operating company, Jiangsu HWFL Power Co.,” which the report said may have led to navigational oversight.
The findings highlight ongoing safety challenges in increasingly congested offshore areas as China expands its wind energy capacity. The Qidong H1 wind farm is located off the eastern coast of Jiangsu province, an area that supports both active commercial fishing and renewable energy infrastructure.
