Two years to the month after the contract signing, the Rotra Futura has been officially delivered at Zhenjiang Shipyards in Jiangsu, China, marking a major milestone in offshore wind logistics.
The handover, which took place on March 30, gathered representatives from project logistics specialist deugro, wind energy giant Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S, and vessel operator Amasus Offshore B.V.. While the naming ceremony for the vessel will take place in Europe later this year, the moment carried added weight: just four days later, her sister vessel Rotra Horizon was launched at the same yard and is on track for delivery in July 2025.
These vessels aren’t just about size—they’re about solving problems. Offshore wind turbines keep getting bigger and heavier, pushing the limits of conventional transport methods. That’s where the new Rotra ships come in. Building on the original Rotra Mare and Rotra Vente vessels—pioneers in transporting wind turbine components—the Futura and Horizon take things several notches higher, both in capacity and efficiency.
This project traces its roots back to 2013, when deugro and Siemens Gamesa joined forces to rethink how turbine components could be moved more safely and economically. What they came up with back then—a unique RO/RO vessel conversion with purpose-built decks—cut loading risks and shaved off around 20% in transport costs. Since 2016, those vessels have clocked over 7.8 million freight tonnes of equipment, supporting more than 9 gigawatts of offshore wind installations. And they’re still in operation.
Now comes the next step. The Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon, each stretching 167.6 meters long and 26 meters wide, were designed with even larger components in mind. By relocating the bridge and accommodation block forward, the ships provide an uninterrupted deck layout that maximizes cargo space—essential when you’re hauling rotor blades the size of football fields.
But it’s not just about what they carry—how they carry it matters, too. Both ships are fitted with a RO/RO ramp, three Liebherr cranes, and a custom gantry system that allows blades to be stacked in three vertical tiers. That kind of layout flexibility means they can handle mixed cargoes without wasting space or time. It also opens up more options at ports where loading infrastructure may be limited.
Under the hood, the vessels boast a low-drag hull coating, a next-gen Wärtsilä engine that burns 15% less fuel, hybrid propulsion, and exhaust gas cleaning systems that comply with IMO Tier 3 standards. There’s even waste heat recovery built in. All told, the design choices reflect a clear push toward minimizing emissions while ramping up efficiency.
According to Christian Johansen, Global Commodity Manager for Ports & Transportation at Siemens Gamesa, “Our offshore order backlog amounts to more than 16 GW, reflecting strong global demand. With the development and charter of the two new Rotra vessels, Siemens Gamesa will be well prepared to ensure the safe, timely and cost-effective execution of offshore projects around the world.”
Anders Moeller, Country Manager Denmark at deugro, added: “Our trilateral Rotra Vessel collaboration, based on mutual respect and innovative thinking, reinforces our commitment to excellence and aims to make a measurable impact in the market while driving the energy transition towards a greener shipping industry.”
These newbuilds are not about being first—they’re about being ready. Offshore wind is scaling fast, and transport infrastructure needs to scale with it. The Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon are showing up at the right time.
