Two ships that were converted into specialized vessels for wind power components after being designed for containers carried 164 nacelles, 150 towers, and 162 blades during their first 10 months of operation, project forwarder Deugro said.
The “Rotra Vente” and “Rotra Mare” completed 90 voyages during that period, according to Deugro, which developed the vessels in partnership with Siemens Wind Power. The vessels have served primarily to connect Siemens’ manufacturing facilities in Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom with installation sites in the North and Baltic seas.
The ships were ordered in 2008 and initially were designed as small container ships that would carry up to 809 TEU each. The ships were never completed and sat idle before they were converted into specialized vessels for transport of wind power equipment.
The conversion reflects trends in the wind power industry, an important source of breakbulk and project cargo, toward expansion of offshore wind farms and greater integration of transportation with manufacturing and installation.
Deugro said the specialized vessels have achieved Siemens’ goal of 15 to 20 percent cost reductions in transportation of its wind power equipment in and around the North and Baltic seas.
The Rotra “Vente” and “Rotra Mare” can each transport nine tower sections, 12 blades, or eight nacelles. The ships measure 141 meters (463 feet) long by 20.6 meters wide, with a draft of 7.2 meters.
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Source: JOC
