This roll-on roll-off ship is designed to provide cost effective transport of the large nacelles of wind turbines. The 141 metre long 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.
Designed from a base of an existing hull of a container ship the vessel was rebuilt for its new purpose at Holland Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the Netherlands. Part of its new equipment is a large bow door that allows ro-ro access to the restructured cargo deck. The deck is covered by a telescopic roof to protect the nacelles from seawater spray during transportation.
Since the roof can be opened, Rotra Vente’s cargo can also be loaded via cranes at harbours without a ro-ro ramp. She can also handle transports of up to nine wind tower sections per trip or three to four rotor blade sets.
Rotra Vente's sister ship – a transporter for towers and blades – is already under construction. This vessel will accommodate up to 12 wind turbine rotor blades.
