Buss-Offshore is becoming increasingly-known for handling large offshore projects via its Orange Blue Terminal in Eemshaven. We take a look at the strategic port and speak to Moritz Christern, Project Manager Offshore Logistics.
Up to three jack-up vessels are jacking up at the same time at the Orange Blue Terminal (OBT) in Eemshaven these days. The Dutch Terminal of the Hamburg port service provider Buss Port Logistics (BPL) is currently executing two offshore projects at the same time in the North Sea. Buss is handling the foundations for the wind farm Gemini, consisting of monopiles and transition pieces, for a total of 150 facilities. The development of this project takes place 85 kilometres north of the coast of the City of Groningen, in the Dutch part of the North Sea. During the construction of the wind farms Gode Wind 1 & 2, the OBT will also serve as base port for its 97 monopiles and transition pieces each. Until this autumn, GeoSea and their jack-up vessel “Innovation” will install the foundations at the construction site at sea, located some 33 kilometres north of the Island of Norderney.
Thus far, Gemini is the largest job in the offshore sector to be handled via the OBT. Of the 300 foundation components, up to 60 sets (consisting of one mono pile and one transition piece each) can be placed on the surface area of the terminal at the same time for intermediate storage. For this project, which will be constructed with the help of the installation ships “Aelous” and “Pacific Osprey”, Buss took over the entire shoreside planning and execution – just as they did for Gode Wind 1 & 2. This includes the manufacture of sand cradles for the intermediate storage of the monopiles, and also the construction of equipment to evenly distribute the load during pre-stowage of the components and for the storage of transition pieces.
For handling of components, the terminal features the Liebherr crawler crane LR 11350 with a hoisting capacity of 1,350 metric tons. For the further transportation into storage, a module transporter (SPMT) with 36 axle lines is in use.
Heinz Wasser, Product Manager Product Manager Offshore Logistics, is happy that the only two North Sea wind farms this year are handled through Eemshaven: “This is a testament to the ideal infrastructure we created at the Orange Blue Terminal. It is also a testament to our long time expertise within the offshore sector.”
PES: OBT is just one of your purpose-built terminals. What kind of features does it offer wind clients?
Moritz Christern: The Orange Blue Terminal in Eemshaven is a multipurpose terminal with approximately 250,000 square metres of logistics space and a 694-metre-long quay. It offers large handling and storage area capacities, heavy-lift platforms, sufficient draft and the option to jack up vessels. Thanks to direct access to the open sea without estuary routes, the terminal also helps make substantial time and cost savings.
