Concordia Damen announce that they are closely collaborating with their partners in the development and construction of two new advanced vessels for the offshore wind sector: the Rotra Futura and the Rotra Horizon. These vessels, specifically designed for the transport of large offshore wind turbine components, are currently being built at the Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard in China and are expected to be delivered to Amasus Shipping in 2025.
The development of the Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon is the result of a successful partnership between Concordia Damen, deugro Danmark, Siemens Gamesa, DEKC Maritime, and Amasus Shipping. Together, they have accurately mapped the requirements and challenges of the offshore wind industry to create a future-proof and sustainable design that meets the highest standards for safety, efficiency, and flexibility. With a charter agreement between Siemens Gamesa, Deugro Danmark and Amasus Shipping, this new Rotra concept will become a vital link in the logistics chain of the growing wind energy sector.
The design of the Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon builds on the previous successful vessels in the Rotra concept, the Rotra Mare and Rotra Vente, which have been in operation since 2016. However, these new vessels are equipped for the latest generation of wind turbine components, which are becoming larger and heavier. Thanks to the unique RO/RO system (Roll-On/Roll-Off) and an innovative portal system, these vessels can safely and efficiently transport larger loads. Additionally, the three Liebherr cranes and the special portal system enable turbine blades to be stowed in three tiers, providing greater flexibility in loading methods and cargo configurations.
With impressive dimensions of 167.6 by 26 meters, and the wheelhouse and accommodations strategically located at the front of the ship, the Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon maximize cargo capacity while ensuring optimal loading without obstructing visibility. These vessels are specifically designed to meet the increasing demand for larger and more powerful offshore wind turbines, while also contributing to the sector’s sustainable ambitions.
At Concordia Damen, innovation is central to our ship designs, allowing us to effectively respond to the growing demand for more sustainable solutions. For the Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon, they have, along with our partners, focused extensively on energy savings and an environmentally friendly design. The aerodynamic and hydro-optimized hull design, combined with a special low-resistance coating, contributes to lower fuel consumption. Furthermore, the vessels are equipped with an advanced Wärtsilä main engine, which consumes 15 percent less fuel and has a smaller CO₂ emissions footprint than current standards.
With these innovations, they ensure that the new Rotra vessels meet today’s and tomorrow’s sustainability standards.
In addition, the vessels feature a hybrid propulsion system that complies with the highest IMO Tier 3 standards. An efficient waste heat recovery system further enhances energy savings, contributing to the sustainability of logistics within the offshore wind industry.
The Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon represent a significant step in making logistics solutions within the offshore wind industry more sustainable and support the development of large-scale wind energy projects. These innovative vessels contribute to the energy transition and address the growing demand for sustainable energy sources.
