EnBW has issued a tender for a helicopter provider to service its German offshore wind farms.
The developer operates two offshore wind farms in the German North Sea, Hohe See (pictured) and Albatros, with the 960MW He Dreiht project expected to be fully operational by the beginning of 2026.
He Dreiht is located in the immediate vicinity of the existing EnBW Hohe See Wind Park.
EnBW also has two offshore wind farms, Baltic 1 and 2, in the Baltic Sea.
The developer plans to use helicopters for the offshore-onshore transport of personnel including luggage in the contract period.
In individual cases, and after consultation with the service provider, cargo, including dangerous goods, is also to be transported by helicopter.
The tender winner shall provide a helicopter approved to fly within the German and Dutch airspace as well as fulfil all statutory requirements to work as an offshore helicopter.
A permanent chartering of a helicopter throughout the entire contract phase is not envisaged by EnBW. Instead, a framework agreement is to be agreed.
The helicopter must be able to approach the Hohe See OSS helicopter landing deck as well as the neighbouring wind farms (such as BARD Offshore 1 or Global Tech I) and converter stations (BorWin Gamma, BorWin Beta) of the transition grid operations.
In individual cases, installation vessels or dervice operation vessels (SOVs) with helidecks are also to be approached.
The helicopter must be capable of performing helicopter hoist operations (HHO) to winch areas of offshore turbines of the wind farms Hohe See, Albatros and He Dreiht as well as to SOVs.
The helicopter must be able to winch material to and from vessels, platforms and offshore turbines.
Start of the planned framework agreement is 1 April 2025 and it will last until 31 3 2032.