EnBW Opens Helicopter Transport Tender for German Offshore Wind Farms

September 20, 2024, by Adnan Memija

EnBW has launched a tender for helicopter transport services for its offshore wind farms in the German North Sea.

The offshore wind owner/developer is looking for a helicopter service for the offshore-onshore transport of personnel including personnel luggage in the contract period. In individual cases, and after consultation with the provider, cargo, including dangerous goods, is also to be transported by helicopter, according to the tender.

EnBW doesn’t plan to permanently charter a helicopter for the entire contract and will instead establish a framework agreement.

The helicopter must be capable of performing helicopter hoist operations to winch areas of turbines of the offshore wind farms Hohe See, Albatros, and He Dreiht as well as to service operation vessels (SOVs). The preferred airport is Emden but other airports are possible.

The estimated value excluding VAT is EUR 5 million, while the maximum value of the framework agreement is EUR 6 million.

The start of the planned agreement is 1 April 2025 and it will last until 31 March 2032.

The deadline for the submission of requests to participate is 22 October 2024.

EnBW constructed the Hohe See and Albatros wind farms, which have been connected to the grid since October 2019 and January 2020, as one 639.45 MW joint project.

Located approximately 100 kilometres from the German North Sea, the offshore wind farms feature 87 Siemens Gamesa SWT-7.0-154 wind turbines.

The third offshore wind farm in the German North Sea is He Dreiht, which is currently under construction and is expected to become fully operational by the beginning of 2026.

Last month, Heerema Marine Contractors’ crane vessel Thialf installed all 64 foundations at the 960 MW offshore wind project. He Dreiht will feature Vestas V236-15.0 MW wind turbines.