The project logistics company deugro, the shipping company Amasus and the Siemens Group are approaching the commissioning of the first new “Rotra ship” for the wind energy/project market.
The first of two newbuildings has been launched in China in partnership with the Concordia Damen shipyard from the Netherlands and DEKC Maritime.
Designed as “offshore wind RoRo vessels” and ordered around one and a half years ago, the newbuilds are to be put into service from 2025 under the names “Rotra Futura” and “Rotra Horizon”. The core of the joint project is the design for “the transportation of large and constantly growing wind turbine components” – a market that has now become the “bread-and-butter business” for the global MPP and project shipping industry. They are built at the Jiangsu Zhenjiang shipyard in China.
Deugro cooperates with Siemens and Amasus
The basis is “the desire” – and a concrete charter agreement – of Siemens Gamesa, Deugro Danmark and Amasus to lead the market with a new Rotra concept, which is set to become an important link in the logistics chain of the growing wind energy industry. With DEKC Maritime and Concordia Damen, design, engineering, project management and shipbuilding work has been carried out to develop “a new, cost- and energy-efficient type of vessel”.
The design of the 167.6 metres long and 26 metres wide “Rotra Futura” and “Rotra Horizon” builds on the previous vessels of the Rotra concept, the “Rotra Mare” and the “Rotra Vente”, which were also developed by Concordia Damen and have been in service since 2016 – but have since undergone an upgrade.
For the new generations of wind turbine components, Damen and DEKSC developed a RoRo system with an “innovative ramp” for deugro, Amasus and Siemens, which enables larger loads to be transported safely and efficiently. In addition, the three Liebherr cranes and the ramp system enable elements to be stowed on three levels. According to the information provided, there is also an “aerodynamic and hydro-optimised hull design”. Combined with a special low-resistance coating, the aim is to reduce fuel consumption. The ships are also equipped with a Wärtsilä main engine, which is said to consume 15% less fuel. A hybrid propulsion system is designed to meet the highest IMO Tier 3 standards.
More wind capacity for predecessors too
The “predecessors” have also already been adapted to the changed framework conditions. “Rotra Mare” and “Rotra Vente” were converted in January and March 2021 by the Holland Shipyards Group in collaboration with Royal Niestern Sander for the shipping company Amasus Shipping.
The 141.6 metres long and 20.6-metre wide “Rotra Mare” was lengthened to 152.7 metres. A new section was built for this and the 8,888 ton ship was divided into two halves. The bow was pulled out of the dry dock and the new middle section was inserted. The dock was then lowered and the bow section reconnected to the “rest”.
Work was also carried out on the “Rotra Vente”. In this project, new elements are being fitted on both sides to increase the deck width to 23.6 metres. The ships are not new territory for the shipbuilding company. It converted the units, which were originally designed as container feeders, in 2016 and 2017.
