Enercon has completed the first transport of wind turbine components using its new push barge Rhenus Berlin I, marking a milestone in the company’s project logistics operations.
Steel tower sections for Enercon’s E-138 EP3 and E-115 EP3 turbines were loaded at the Port of Emden and shipped to Haren/Emsland in Lower Saxony, from where they will be delivered by road to the Emlichheim wind farm site.
“We wouldn’t have been able to deliver the tower sections to the destination region by road without considerable effort,” said Alexander Hänsel, chartering manager at Enercon Logistics. “We’re therefore glad we could rely on the Rhenus Berlin I – even though the barge was originally designed for other purposes.”
The 100-metre vessel, custom-built to Enercon’s specifications, consists of a push boat and a modular three-part barge. It features an external propulsion unit for navigating narrow lock chambers and will mainly operate within the North German canal network.
The new equipment is primarily designed for transporting long rotor blades, capable of carrying up to two 86-metre blades from Enercon’s latest E-175 EP5 model, but will also be used flexibly for other components.
Enercon global logistics vice president Hendrik Peterburs said: “The Rhenus Berlin I is another important addition to our portfolio of logistics solutions, helping us ensure the timely delivery of components to our customers’ wind farm construction sites. Tailor-made transport concepts, state-of-the-art equipment, and proven logistics partners are key to organising multimodal transport chains adapted to specific project conditions.”
Rhenus Group senior project manager David Schütz added: “With the first voyage of the Rhenus Berlin I, we are demonstrating how efficient and sustainable inland waterways can be as a transport route for complex project logistics. They offer a reliable alternative to road transport – with fewer traffic jams, lower emissions, and greater planning reliability.”