Siemens has signed a long-term framework contract with transport service provider deugro Danmark A/S, utilising two purpose-built transport vessels to efficiently link Siemens’ existing production locations in Denmark with the new production facilities in Cuxhaven in Germany and Hull in the UK.
Instead of loading the rotor blades and nacelles the components will be rolled on and off of these vessels. This “Roll-on/Roll-off” process is known as Ro/Ro. Siemens has utilised this method for many years. Based on this experience, the company’s experts have further developed the concept and deugro will now provide tailor-made transport vehicles. Siemens estimates cost savings of 15 – 20 per cent compared to current transport procedures, depending on the location of the offshore wind power plant. deugro Danmark A/S will assist with shipping of the large Siemens components. Two special transport vessels, each with a length of approximately 140 meters, will be constructed. One of the purpose-built vessels can transport eight nacelles of the current Siemens D7 wind turbine platform at a time. It will be launched as early as fall 2016. The second vessel will accommodate up to 12 rotor blades and transport them from the production facility in Hull, UK, or from Aalborg, Denmark, to the respective installation port. Both vessels can also be unloaded by crane when required. Siemens also presented optimisation measures for installation and commissioning of offshore wind turbines. The D7 nacelle can be fully tested on the mainland. Further improvements aim to shorten installation and commissioning times and to reduce weather-related project delays. All of these measures will be implemented in the next months and contribute to the industrialisation of the entire value chain.