Siemens has commissioned its first specialized transport wind turbine vessel, the Rotra Vente, to transport the large nacelles used in offshore wind turbines.
The 141-meter long vessel 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.
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.
Based on the design of a container ship hull, the vessel was rebuilt for its new purpose at Holland Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the Netherlands. To maximize flexibility, she can also carry up to nine wind tower sections per trip or three to four rotor blade sets.
A sister ship is expected to be delivered in spring 2017, and Siemens expects logistics cost savings of around 20 percent when both vessels are operational.
Rotra Vente’s sister ship – a transporter for towers and blades – is already under construction. This vessel 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.