December 7, 2016 – Siemens has commissioned its first specialized transport vessel to fulfil the needs for cost-effective transportation of the large nacelles used in Siemens’ direct drive offshore wind turbines.

Siemens says sea transportation and Roll On-Roll Off-loading (RoRo) are both key facets of its new offshore logistics concept. The 141-metre long Rotra Vente can carry multiple 8MW nacelles per trip, and will connect Siemens’ coming manufacturing site in Cuxhaven, Germany, with installation harbours in the North and Baltic seas.

Designed from a base of an existing hull of a container ship, part of the Rotra Vente’s new equipment is a large bow door that allows RoRo 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 harbours without a Ro-Ro ramp. Due to the deck’s flexibility, the vessel can also handle transports of up to nine wind tower sections per trip, or three to four rotor blade sets.

“When our new factories in Hull, England, and Cuxhaven, Germany, become fully operational—and both Ro-Ro vessels are in service as interconnection of our manufacturing and installation network—we expect savings of 15-20% in logistics costs compared to current transport procedures,” explained Michael Hannibal, CEO Offshore of Siemens Wind Power.

Rotra Vente’s sister ship—a transporter for towers and blades—is under construction, and expected to be delivered Spring 2017. It will accommodate up to 12 wind turbine rotor blades and transport them from Siemens’ production facilities in Hull, England, or Aalborg, Denmark, to the respective installation harbour.

PHOTO: The new transport vessel is 141-metres long and will transport multiple Siemens 8MW nacelles per trip. For Ro-Ro loading, a large bow door can be opened. A telescopic roof protects the nacelles from salty seawater spray, and can be slid away for optional lift-on loading. Photo Siemens Wind Power.