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Large projects

Transport

Transport Insurance: The journey of a wind turbine

The "Esperanza" has an unusual cargo on board: The barge is transporting a complete wind turbine from Rotterdam to Basel, where it will be loaded onto trucks and driven another 100 kilometres overland. Its destination: Mont Croisin in the Bernese Jura.

19 November 2013, text: Katrin Meier, photo: Helvetia

The transporter barge Esperanza carrying the tower element for the wind turbine. — At the start of October the 110-metre long transporter barge "Esperanza" enters the port of Basel.

The hold of the barge containing its cargo. — In its hold there are four tower elements, three rotor blades, the rotor hub and the associated nacelle containing the generator.

The rotor blades next to the tower element. — The heaviest pieces weigh up to 60 tonnes. The rotor blades weigh "only" around eight tonnes, but they are up to 45 metres long.

The covered rotor system. — Transporting the shipment involves the reloading facility, the heavy haulage firm, the manufacturer and an expert who documents the individual steps.

One part of the wind turbine is lifted out of the barge. — A 300-tonne gantry crane was used for loading.

One part of the wind turbine is lifted out of the barge. — At the first lift, the experts discovered that the nacelle was not hanging straight and could not be turned on the hook. That meant starting all over again.

Port workers secure the cargo on an HGV. — But lowering it onto the low-loader caused no problems. The heavy load was secured by mean of chains, on a made-to-measure frame.

The cargo has been firmly secured on an HGV. — Two tower elements had now been loaded onto the vehicles. These were followed next day by the hub controlling the rotor blades and the last mast sections.

The transporter barge Esperanza carrying the tower element for the wind turbine.

At the start of October the 110-metre long transporter barge "Esperanza" enters the port of Basel.

The hold of the barge containing its cargo.

In its hold there are four tower elements, three rotor blades, the rotor hub and the associated nacelle containing the generator.

The rotor blades next to the tower element.

The heaviest pieces weigh up to 60 tonnes. The rotor blades weigh "only" around eight tonnes, but they are up to 45 metres long.

The covered rotor system.

Transporting the shipment involves the reloading facility, the heavy haulage firm, the manufacturer and an expert who documents the individual steps.

One part of the wind turbine is lifted out of the barge.

A 300-tonne gantry crane was used for loading.

One part of the wind turbine is lifted out of the barge.

At the first lift, the experts discovered that the nacelle was not hanging straight and could not be turned on the hook. That meant starting all over again.

Port workers secure the cargo on an HGV.

But lowering it onto the low-loader caused no problems. The heavy load was secured by mean of chains, on a made-to-measure frame.

The cargo has been firmly secured on an HGV.

Two tower elements had now been loaded onto the vehicles. These were followed next day by the hub controlling the rotor blades and the last mast sections.

The 110-metre long transporter barge from Rotterdam slowly enters the port of Basel. In its hold there are four tower elements, three rotor blades, the rotor hub and the associated nacelle containing the generator – a complete wind turbine. The heaviest pieces weigh up to 60 tonnes. The rotor blades weigh "only" around eight tonnes, but they are up to 45 metres long. All this is now to be transported into the Bernese Jura. Or to be more precise, to Mont Croisin, where Switzerland's biggest wind turbines have stood since 1996.

Cargo has to be checked

The "Esperanza" travels up and down the Rhine four times, until all four turbines are in Basel. From loading to arrival at its destination, this type of shipment is very carefully monitored and documented. At the Port of Basel an independent expert checks the incoming cargo for damage, inspects the necessary papers and ensures that it is correctly loaded. It takes almost two days to assign all the individual sections of the wind turbines to the heavy goods vehicles and lash them in place.

Transport insurance is well worthwhile

As soon as the trucks are on the road, the expert finalises his report and sends it to the transport insurance company – in this case Helvetia. Because losses, theft and damage are unfortunately everyday events in the transport business. Finding the person responsible for the damage and making them pay is extremely difficult, particularly in the case of cross-border shipments. Fortunately, the wind turbines have now arrived undamaged on Mont Croisin and will soon be providing electricity for the region.

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