The North Sea is important for western and north-western Europe. Major seaports, including Rotterdam and Amsterdam, are accessible via the North Sea. But the North Sea is more than access to large and important seaports. Fisheries, data connections, pipelines, wind farms ….. much comes together around that yet size-limited North Sea. Despite the great importance of the North Sea for the Netherlands and surrounding countries, governments, individuals, companies and other organisations appear suffer from “sea blindness”: they do not pay enough attention to safety issues, as well as other matters, related to the North Sea.
The Dutch Safety Board (“Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid”) has issued a report on the limited understanding of risks for shipping from North Sea activities. The Dutch Safety Board’s report – Compromise on room to Manoeuvre, Managing the safety of shipping in an increasingly crowded North Sea – was triggered by the problems faced by the Maltese bulk carrier “Julietta D” during storm “Corrie” in early 2022. As the vessel drifted towards the Dutch coast, it first collided with another ship and then with two structures that form part of a wind farm under construction. 
Shipping routes, wind farms, and oil rigs are all competing for space in the North Sea. The increasing number of fixed objects poses risks for shipping. The Dutch Shipping Board arrived at the conclusion that a lot of those risks are not properly understood.
It is worrying to read that yet significant risks are insufficiently recognised and that capacity for emergency response is limited.
In the North Sea, wind-sensitive vessels such as ultra large container ships can already encounter problems in a wind force of just 6 BF. There is not enough room for those vessels to make a complete turn in case of an emergency. And in hazardous situations, the current emergency response towing vessels cannot always assist them, the Dutch Safety Board reports.
As we all know situations with a wind force of 6 BF occur frequently.
It is, amongst other bodies, up to the Dutch authorities to take appropriate precautions and measures following the findings and recommendations of the Dutch Saftey Board.
The full report can be downloaded here: https://onderzoeksraad.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Summary-Compromise-on-room-to-Manoeuvre-Managing-the-safety-of-shipping-in-an-increasingly-crowded-North-Sea.pdf
One certainty remains: NNPC Correspondents is ready 24/7 to assist shipowners, P&I Clubs and their members if and when needed.