Clarksons Secures OranjeWind Port Role as Offshore Construction Expands Across Three Dutch Ports

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Clarksons Port Services BV has been appointed port and agency services provider for the construction and commissioning phase of the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, taking responsibility for coordinating vessel calls and cargo movements across Den Helder, Rotterdam and Eemshaven as offshore construction accelerates in the Dutch North Sea.

The appointment comes as the 795 MW project, jointly developed by RWE and TotalEnergies, moves from early seabed preparation into the main construction phase. First offshore works began in April with installation of filter layers and scour protection, while foundation installation, cable laying and logistics activities are scheduled to intensify through the second half of 2026. The contract places Clarksons at the centre of a complex logistics chain that will support offshore construction through early 2028.

Industry reports said the agreement covers agency services and operational coordination for regular Service Operation Vessel calls and Crew Transfer Vessel traffic in Den Helder, alongside load out activities for monopiles and secondary steel in Rotterdam and turbine components from Eemshaven. The work is intended to ensure vessel movements comply with Dutch port and regulatory requirements while supporting the project’s construction schedule.

The logistics strategy reflects the increasingly specialised role of Dutch ports in offshore wind construction.

Den Helder has already been selected by RWE and TotalEnergies as the operations and maintenance base for OranjeWind. During construction it will also handle frequent offshore support vessel traffic, including Service Operation Vessels transporting technicians and Crew Transfer Vessels supporting daily offshore operations.

Rotterdam will function primarily as the heavy cargo gateway, handling load outs of monopile foundations and secondary steel destined for offshore installation vessels. Eemshaven, meanwhile, will serve as the turbine pre assembly and marshalling hub, with Buss Terminal Eemshaven BV preparing major components before offshore installation begins in 2027.

This multi port approach is designed to reduce congestion, distribute specialised cargo handling across dedicated facilities and maintain flexibility as offshore installation campaigns gather pace.

The OranjeWind project is now officially listed as under construction, with first electricity expected in 2027 and full commercial operation targeted for 2028.

Jan De Nul began offshore works earlier this year using the rock installation vessel Simon Stevin. The company is also contracted to install foundations and turbines using the heavy lift vessel Les Alizés and the jack up installation vessel Voltaire. DEME will transport and install inter array cables and secondary steel, with those activities scheduled to begin during the second half of 2026.

Vestas will supply 53 V236 15 MW offshore wind turbines, providing a total installed capacity of 795 MW. Once operational, OranjeWind is expected to generate approximately 3 TWh of electricity annually, enough to supply more than one million Dutch households. TotalEnergies has also indicated that part of its share of the electricity will support future green hydrogen production through planned electrolyser projects.

For ports, vessel operators and project logistics providers, the Clarksons appointment highlights how offshore wind developments increasingly depend on integrated multi port logistics, where coordinated vessel scheduling, heavy lift cargo handling and offshore support operations become as critical to project delivery as the installation campaign itself.