Through the years, Blue Water Shipping has loaded, unloaded and transported thousands of wind turbine components to innumerable wind farms around the world. This has now provided the company with the Port Terminal Operator of the Year award at the international Heavy Lift Awards 2020.

The panel of judges was especially impressed with the efficient multipurpose facility serving the wind industry through innovative solutions going above and beyond the customers’ needs. All while keeping safety at the forefront of operations.

Per Jensen, Global Director of Blue Water’s Port Service Division, is proud of the prize:

“We consider the prize as a recognition of many years’ dedicated efforts to deliver modern, safe and efficient solutions, which we have continuously developed and improved to handle challenges as the wind components have grown in size. We are proud of the renown – and to be part of an important industry which will remain vital to the renewable industry in the future, as the number of wind parks will grow significantly on global scale”.

Since the 90s, the Port of Esbjerg has been a key location for Blue Water’s extensive activities within wind turbine transports and terminal handling. The port is among the world’s largest ports of loading wind turbines, and Blue Water Esbjerg commands 450,000 m2 terminal space and approx. 50,000 m2 storage and warehousing facilities.

Within recent years, the company has expanded its port service activities considerably to include other permanent terminals in both Denmark and other countries. In addition, the company has developed a highly agile project setup benefitting Blue Water customers with the company’s experienced specialists – as well as equipment – being sent out to relevant locations for establishing terminal, operation and project management. Furthermore, Blue Water has developed an IT system – Compass Wind – to manage and execute all transport tasks within the projects.

“Our ability to combine our global competences with local expertise, thereby gathering a team to execute the projects in the same high standard and quality – regardless of destination – has turned out to be very efficient and value creating for our customers”, says Søren Messmann, Head of Operations, Port Service.

He points out that Blue Water has completed a series of wind projects in Australia, Asia, Europe and the USA with this terminal setup. Overall, Blue Water has been involved in the handling of 13 GW offshore wind energy since the 90s, which correspond to almost half of the world’s total offshore wind energy. Onshore, Blue Water has handled 21 GW through the years.