Siemens presents first customized turbine transport vessel
Siemens Wind Power has commissioned its first specialized transport vessel. The 141-meter long Rotra Vente will transport large nacelles used in Siemens’ direct drive offshore wind turbines more cost effectively.
The vessel can carry multiple 8-megawatt nacelles per trip and will connect Siemens’ coming manufacturing site in Cuxhaven, Germany, with installation harbours in the North and Baltic Seas.
Rotra Vente was designed from a base of an existing hull of a container ship and rebuilt for its new purpose at Holland Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam (the Netherlands). A sister ship for transporting towers and blades is already under construction with delivery expected in spring 2017.
A large bow door allows Ro-Ro access to the restructured cargo deck. The deck is covered by a telescopic roof to protect the nacelles from salty seawater spray during transportation. As the roof can be opened, cargo can also be loaded via cranes at harbours without a Ro-Ro ramp.