- The Rotra Ventre arrives in Hull docking close to the offshore wind turbine facility.
- Once berthed, the specialist ship’s bow is raised into the air to allow components for the turbines to be unloaded.
- The purpose-built roll-on roll-off vessel is operated by Siemens Gamesa and typically plies her trade between Hull, Cuxhaven.
The huge wind turbine towers at Siemens Gamesa’s factory in Hull are now a familiar feature on the city’s skyline.
In recent months they have been joined by another striking sight – the upright bow of a high-tech cargo vessel pointing high into the sky at Alexandra Dock, says an article published on hull daily mail website.
Massive operation at dock
The Rotra Ventre arrives in Hull docking close to the offshore wind turbine facility where the blades are manufactured and other parts are assembled before being shipped out to wind farms being constructed in the North Sea.
Once berthed, the specialist ship’s bow is raised into the air to allow components for the turbines to be unloaded.
It once again emphasises the massive scale of the operation at the dock which is set to be expanded ever further with plans to double the size of the factory there with the creation of an additional 200 jobs.
Arrival in port brings a new multiple shipment
Every arrival in port brings a new multiple shipment of nacelles – the housings for the generating engine for each turbine.
They are manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s plant in Cuxhaven in Germany, the largest of its kind in the country.
Each nacelle weighs 400 tonnes and is driven off the vessel using a multi-wheeled heavy lift vehicle known as a self-propelled modular transport.
Purpose of built roll-on roll-off vessel
The purpose-built roll-on roll-off vessel is operated by Siemens Gamesa and typically plies her trade between Hull, Cuxhaven and another one of the company’s offshore wind turbine installation sites at the Danish port of Ebsjerg along with a sister ship Rotra Mare.
Measuring 141 metres in length, it has also been designed to carry up to four sets of blades or nine wind towers sections if required.
The cargo deck is covered by a specially-designed detachable roof which protects the cargo on the vessel from sea water and weather conditions.
The roof can slide away allowing cargo to be lifted on and off by crane as an alternative to ro-ro unloading.
The company says transporting most of its key offshore wind turbine components by sea rather than road is another example of its commitment to reducing costs.
“We expect savings of 15 to 20 percent in logistics costs compared to previous transport procedures. This is another important contributor to reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind.”
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Source: hull daily mail
