• Milestone for new offshore wind power logistics concept
• Ro-Ro-vessel can carry multiple large direct drive nacelles per trip
Sea transportation and Roll on-Roll off-loading (Ro-Ro) are both key in Siemens’ new offshore logistics concept launched in 2015. Now the company has commissioned its first specialized transport vessel, the Rotra Vente. It fulfills the needs for cost effective transportation of the large nacelles used in Siemens’ direct drive offshore wind turbines. The 141-meter long vessel can carry multiple 8- megawatt nacelles per trip and will connect Siemens’ coming manufacturing site in Cuxhaven, Germany with installation harbors in the North and Baltic Seas. Siemens and logistics partner deugro organization celebrated the delivery of the ship today, together with customers and representatives of the European offshore wind industry, in the Danish harbor of Esbjerg. A sister ship is expected to be delivered in spring 2017.
Designed from a base of an existing hull of a container ship the vessel was rebuilt for its new purpose at Holland Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the Netherlands. Part of its new equipment is a large bow door that allows Ro-Ro access to the restructured cargo deck. The deck is covered by a telescopic roof to protect the nacelles from salty seawater spray during transportation. Since the roof can be opened, Rotra Vente’s cargo can also be loaded via cranes at harbors without a Ro-Ro ramp. Due to maximum flexibility of the deck, she can also handle transports of up to nine wind tower sections per trip or three to four rotor blade sets.
