German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon has completed its first transport of turbine components using its new push barge Rhenus Berlin I, in what the company described as a milestone for its project logistics operations.
Steel tower sections for Enercon’s E-138 EP3 and E-115 EP3 turbine models were loaded at the Port of Emden and shipped to Haren/Emsland in Lower Saxony. From there, the components will be moved by road to the Emlichheim wind farm site.
“We wouldn’t have been able to deliver the tower sections to the destination region by road without considerable effort,” said Alexander Hänsel, chartering manager at Enercon Logistics. “We’re therefore glad we could rely on the Rhenus Berlin I – even though the barge was originally designed for other purposes.”
The 100-metre vessel, custom-built to Enercon’s specifications, includes a push boat and a modular three-part barge. It is equipped with an external propulsion unit to navigate narrow lock chambers and is intended mainly for use in the North German canal network.
While primarily designed to carry long rotor blades — including up to two 86-metre blades from Enercon’s latest E-175 EP5 model — the barge can also be adapted for transporting other large components.
“The Rhenus Berlin I is another important addition to our portfolio of logistics solutions, helping us ensure the timely delivery of components to our customers’ wind farm construction sites,” said Hendrik Peterburs, vice president of global logistics at Enercon. “Tailor-made transport concepts, state-of-the-art equipment, and proven logistics partners are key to organising multimodal transport chains adapted to specific project conditions.”
David Schütz, senior project manager at Rhenus Group, said the successful voyage illustrates the advantages of using inland waterways for large-scale logistics. “With the first voyage of the Rhenus Berlin I, we are demonstrating how efficient and sustainable inland waterways can be as a transport route for complex project logistics,” Schütz said. “They offer a reliable alternative to road transport – with fewer traffic jams, lower emissions, and greater planning reliability.”
The company said the vessel will continue to support Enercon’s logistics network as part of broader efforts to enhance efficiency and sustainability in component delivery for wind energy projects across northern Germany.
