COLI Group completed the transport of 14 GE Vernova power transformers from Türkiye to Poland as part of the infrastructure linked to the development of Baltica 2 offshore wind farm.
The logistical operation lasted six months and was carried out using three voyages on independently chartered vessels. The equipment left the GE Vernova factory in Turkey and was subsequently loaded onto ships at Safiport in Derince, bound for Poland.
The project represents the second direct collaboration between COLI Group and the GE Vernova team in Poland and required coordinating different means of transport to move heavy equipment by sea and land.
Four transformers weighed 361 tons each
Ten of the transformers, weighing between 110 and 170 tons, were unloaded at the port of Gdynia, from there they continued their journey by road to their intended location. The four largest pieces of equipment required different logistics, each weighed 361 tons, so they were transported by barge to Władysławowo.
At that point, specialized loading and unloading maneuvers were carried out to handle the heavy units, COLI Group also set up a temporary storage area while preparations progressed at the site designated to receive the transformers.
Land transport required adapting the route in Poland
Transporting the transformers along Polish roads also presented several technical, legal, and logistical challenges. Some bridges along the route were not designed to support the weight of the units. To overcome this limitation, a temporary elevated structure was erected over the existing infrastructure, allowing the transport of the heavy cargo to continue.
The operation also required coordination with various local authorities to manage the necessary movements and conditions along the route. Adding to these difficulties was the weather; part of the work took place during the winter, with temperatures dropping as low as -15°C.
The project thus combined maritime transport navigation on barges and specialized land routes to move heavy electrical equipment to its final destination.
The transformers will be part of the Baltica 2 project
The equipment is intended for the infrastructure associated with Baltic 2 a 1.5 GW offshore wind farm developed by PGE Group and Ørsted in Polish waters of the Baltic Sea. The project involves the installation of 107 wind turbines and is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
Once operational, Baltica 2 will have the capacity to supply renewable electricity to more than 2.4 million homes, becoming one of the key projects for the expansion of offshore wind energy in Poland.
The arrival of the 14 transformers allows progress to be made in the development of the electrical infrastructure needed for the park while the various stages of construction continue before it is put into service.
Source: OE Offshore Engineer
Photo: COLI Group
