SPECIALISED TRANSPORT Ӏ WIND
1.6 GW, is one of the largest
offshore wind energy projects in Germany and will be constructed in two phases (A & B). Thor, with a planned capacity
of more than 1 GW to power more than one million homes, is Denmark’s largest to date. Mammoet will manage the phased load-in, temporary storage and load-out of 116 XXL monopiles for both wind farm projects at Buss Terminal Eemshaven in the Netherlands. The largest foundations will
weigh around 1,700 tonnes and measure 96 meters in length. The monopiles will be offloaded onto the quay using a RoRo linkspan ramp and transported using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) fitted with saddles. The SPMT trailers will then
drive the monopiles onto storage dunes, ready to be called off and shipped to the wind farms located in the German and Danish waters of the North Sea.
DOLL BLADE ADAPTOR Also in November UK specialist heavy haulage company Collett & Sons completed the delivery of all 90 wind turbine components to Cushaling Wind Farm in Ireland, working on behalf of Vestas. For the job Collett utilised
its latest renewable energy fleet
addition, the Blade Adapter trailer (also known as the clamp and dolly system), to transport the blades. This design, made by German
trailer manufacturer DOLL, was also used for the first time in Ireland and the UK. Collett says it provides improved
ground clearance, enhanced manoeuvrability and greater stability compared to standard Super Wing Carrier trailers. According to Collett its Blade
Adaptor requires two metres less space for turning at bends than a 65 metre platform trailer, ensuring safer driving with high centres of gravity. Despite the total vehicle length of 93 metres, Collett’s adapter is designed to be universally compatible with blades of up to 120 metres.
RECORD BREAKER All components, including nine nacelles, nine hubs, nine powertrains, 36 tower sections and 27 blades, were stored and loaded from Port of Waterford, Ireland. This included record- breaking 80-metre-long blades, the longest onshore turbine blades ever delivered in the history of the Ireland and the UK. Once operational, Cushaling
The DOLL Blade
Adapter was used for the first time in the UK and Ireland by Collett
Wind Farm will feature nine V162 Vestas Enventus turbines, the first of their kind used in both countries.
The powertrains and hubs were
transported on eight-axle and six- axle steerable trailers respectively, while the nacelle components were delivered using 3-7 Nooteboom clamps. All tower sections (bottom, mid 1, mid 2, and top) were transported using Collett’s 3-7 Nooteboom clamps. All components, except the
blades, were transported directly from port to site, following a 295km route. Undertaking nighttime deliveries in order to minimise road traffic disruption, the route took approximately 10 hours including a rest break along the M4. Due to the blades’ length, distance and complexity of the route, a different route was utilised and spread over two nights. The wind power industry
continues to drive remarkable advancements in the specialised transportation sector, fostering innovation that addresses both the increasing scale of turbine components and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. The large -scale projects
referenced above highlight the global momentum behind wind energy and its reliance on specialised transportation systems. The future of wind energy is bright, and the specialised transport sector will undoubtedly remain a vital partner in its ongoing success.
26 CRANES TODAY
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