DolWin beta behemoth en route from Dubai to Northern Europe

The voyage is now expected to take approximately 50 days, the heavylift carrier sailing around Africa due to height restrictions on the Suez Canal. Once arrived at Aibel AS’ yard in Norway some six months’ further work will be required to finish installation of transformers, overseen by prime contractor and HVDC equipment/high-voltage cable supplier ABB. Eventually a total of 256 wind turbines, each of 6MW capacity, will be connected via the platform to the German electricity grid.

Construction of the DolWin beta at Drydocks World took more than 7m man hours and involved a world record heavy lift of the 10,000 tonne topside of the platform to a height of 52.8mtr in December 2013.

Successful completion of the platform “brings Drydocks World into the top league of shipyards capable of constructing mega offshore structures,” the yard group said.

Drydocks World and Maritime World chairman Khamis Buamim told Seatrade at the pre-sailaway ceremony in Dubai that the company’s partnership with northern European countries was strong, and that it was eyeing further work in Europe.

“Our emphasis, because of our closer proximity to Europe, makes Europe our market, and vice versa, makes the European companies see us as a potential provider,” he said. “We’ll continue to explore opportunities with our partners in Europe.”

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