Sarens has successfully wrapped up a complex weighing and transport operation for the BorWin epsilon jacket and topside, working under subcontract to Dragados Offshore at the company’s facility in Cádiz, Spain.
Between February 19 and April 30, 2025, Sarens managed the loading and barge transfer of the two massive structures destined for the North Sea, a critical step in the BorWin5 offshore grid connection project. The mission was part of the broader energy infrastructure works commissioned by German transmission system operator TenneT, with Dragados Offshore and Siemens Energy as key contractors.
This isn’t just about heavy gear—this was a high-stakes, high-precision operation involving around 2,000 tonnes of transport stools, 48 load cells, 500-ton jacks, and 476 axle lines of SPMTs. Moving the topside more than 1.5 kilometers across the yard was no walk in the park. Sarens had to navigate both the sheer size of the modules and the physical limitations of the assembly space.
“Working with Sarens means not only gaining access to high-tech equipment but also benefiting from decades of expertise,” said José Mª Martínez Gutiérrez, Key Account Manager at Sarens. That expertise was tested when the team had to work through nearly three weeks of heavy rainfall, which disrupted the assembly of transport systems and pushed the crew to adapt quickly to keep the schedule on track.
One of the trickiest challenges was removing the 2,000-tonne transport stools from underneath the topside. The structure’s design—with multiple protruding elements—meant that the team had to maneuver with surgical precision to avoid damage and delays. “Despite weather challenges, our team successfully executed this critical operation, ensuring a smooth load-out for Dragados Offshore,” added Willem Ditmer, Senior Project Manager.
Sarens’ ability to quickly install and dismantle its transport system helped minimize interference with daily operations at the yard, a key factor in the project’s overall success. The selection of equipment was customized to suit the load and spatial constraints, showing how tailored engineering is often the difference between delay and delivery.
Now en route to the North Sea, the jacket and topside will form the backbone of the BorWin5 platform, which plays a vital role in connecting offshore wind energy to the German grid. For Sarens, it’s another notch in their offshore track record—and a reminder of what it takes to move the immovable.
