Handling monopiles measuring approximately 100 meters long, 10 meters in diameter, and weighing over 1,200 tons requires precise organization, where every step counts. CS WIND Offshore A/S manufactured 40 XXL monopiles for Ørsted's future Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. BMS handled their internal transport and unloading, from the workshops to their departure for the installation site.
SPMTs at the heart of production
From the earliest stages of manufacturing, BMS worked alongside CS WIND Offshore to move steel plates, sections undergoing assembly, and then the completed monopiles. This logistical continuity is supported by a regularly expanded fleet of SPMT modules, capable of adapting to weight and size constraints.
The 40 monopiles produced are of the transition piece-free type, with the transition piece being directly integrated into the structure. This design choice makes it possible to anticipate some of the operations on land, but results in heavier components that are more difficult to handle. For internal movements on site, BMS mobilized 48 axle lines to ensure stability and precision.
Unloading and departure for offshore
BMS also handled the loading of the finished monopiles. In groups of three, they were transferred to a barge at the port of Lindø, near Odense. They were then transported to Eemshaven, in the north of the Netherlands, a transit point before final shipment and installation at sea.
For this key phase, 54 axle lines from the recently acquired SPMT modules were deployed. This operation illustrates the importance of modular equipment and close coordination in supporting the development of large offshore wind projects.
