• Significant pollution at sea was observed on Monday on the site of the offshore wind farm in the bay of Saint-Brieuc.

  • In charge of the drilling work, a vessel belonging to a Dutch company declared a 100-liter oil leak.

  • A French Navy ship is expected in the area this Tuesday morning to start anti-pollution operations.

The Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic evokes "significant pollution". An oil slick 16 km long and 2.8 km wide was observed Monday at sea on the site of the wind farm in the bay of Saint-Brieuc. The incident reportedly occurred early Monday morning. Responsible for carrying out drilling work on the site, the vessel

Aeolus

, belonging to the Dutch company Van Ooord, declared around 6.30 am to the regional operational surveillance and rescue center (Cross) of Corsen "a 100-liter oil leak. ", Indicates the prefecture in a press release.

First observed by a satellite, the pollution was confirmed in the early afternoon by a customs plane.

"Faced with this significant pollution, the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic quickly transmitted the elements observed to the public prosecutor of Brest, now in charge of the case", underlines the prefecture.

The wind farm project strongly contested by fishermen

A support and assistance vessel chartered from the French Navy is expected this Tuesday morning in the area to start anti-pollution operations.

The company Ailes Marines, which is building the wind farm, also told the maritime prefecture that the ship at the origin of the incident should leave the bay of Saint-Brieuc this Tuesday morning and join a Dutch port "to drive there. checks on drilling equipment ”.

With a capacity of 496 Megawatts with 62 wind turbines over 200 meters high and 30 to 42 meters underwater, the park is supposed to produce 1,820 Gigawatts per year, the equivalent, according to its promoter, of annual electricity consumption of 835,000 inhabitants.

Its commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2023. The project is strongly contested by fishermen, who believe that this offshore wind farm will "destroy the natural heritage and economic activities of the bay of Saint-Brieuc".

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