Our hydraulic lifting gantry SBL 600 made its debut for the Baltic Power Project, Poland’s first offshore wind farm.
What is the SBL 600? Simply put, it's a hydraulic gantry designed for handling extremely heavy loads. Schmidbauer made its debut with it at the Baltic Power project in late September 2024 – Poland's first offshore wind farm.
The Baltic Power offshore wind farm faces a groundbreaking task: It aims to cover 3% of Poland's energy needs, marking a milestone for the country's energy transition. The handling of the first large-scale components for this ambitious project has already begun. These components, intended for the onshore section of the wind farm, were delivered via the port of Gdynia. Some were loaded onto barges and transported to the port of Władysławowo. The entire logistical operation – from transport to unloading and installation – was coordinated by UTC Overseas.
This is where Schmidbauer came into play. Their scope of work included the installation of the hydraulic gantry SBL 600 at the port of Władysławowo. With finesse and precision, four transformers, each weighing 354 tons, were transferred to SPMTs. These transformers are essential for establishing the energy supply of the offshore wind farm.
Prior to this, Schmidbauer had already unloaded four shunt reactors from flatbed trailers in Gdynia, each weighing 135 tons. But that wasn't all: Schmidbauer was also responsible for assembling the complete bogies for these reactors. These were then placed on rails and maneuvered into their final position – with the millimeter precision that Schmidbauer is renowned for.
After completing the operations in Władysławowo, the Enerpac SBL 600 was relocated approximately 40 km to Osieki Lęborskie, where the Baltic Power plant is being built – the heart of Poland's first offshore wind farm project. Here, Schmidbauer unloaded four additional shunt reactors, also weighing 135 tons, from flatbed trailers. Once the bogies were assembled and placed on the rails, the reactors were positioned accurately.
Work in Osieki Lęborskie began on October 9 with the unloading of the SBL 600. Following this, the rail system was assembled and leveled. On October 12, the first two reactors were lifted from the truck, equipped with bogies, and placed on the rails. The remaining two reactors were also successfully maneuvered into their positions. The dismantling of the SBL 600 and the packing of the components into just six containers followed, preparing for transport and the next deployment in Germany.
Once again, Schmidbauer has demonstrated that even amidst the most significant logistical challenges, precise and efficient solutions are achievable. Thanks to this work, the Baltic Power offshore wind farm, a symbol of Poland's sustainable energy future, is steadily moving closer to completion.
Equipment:
Location: Port of Władysławowo, Poland & Osieki Lęborskie, Poland
Duration: September 29, 2024 – October 16, 2024
