A forwarder, a power plant manufacturer, and a ship operator have joined forces to order two ships in China, designed specifically to carry large wind turbine blades in three tiers.
China’s Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard has been tasked with building the specialist ships, with delivery scheduled in the first half of 2025.
The shipowning joint venture is comprised of freight forwarder deugro Danmark, offshore wind giant Siemens Gamesa and Dutch shipping firm Amasus Offshore.
The ships – to be christened Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon- will measure 167.6 m by 26 m, with the deckhouse and accommodation placed forward to ensure optimal cargo intake without any line-of-sight limitations. The vessels will be fitted with a stern roro ramp, three Liebherr cranes and a unique gantry system, allowing stowage of blades in three tiers, providing flexibility in cargo composition and method of loading.