Complex move from Cuxhaven

After months of waiting for calm weather, the 60 m high research platform FINO 3 weighing some 300 tons, was finally loaded on board a floating crane at Cuxport’s Europakai berth and taken to its new location in the North Sea 45 sea miles west of the island of Sylt. When it has been fully installed in position, FINO 3 will investigate the effects of wind turbines on the seabed and marine environment. The platform has also been designed for wind and wave research purposes.

The platform was designed and manufactured by Züblin on-site at Cuxport’s deep-water terminal. A heavy load quay with an area of 1,600 sq m for the transhipment (on the seaward side) of loads with an overall weight of up to 1,500 tons is also located in Cuxport. As a result, Cuxhaven has developed into a leading European location in the offshore wind energy sector and a number of companies active in offshore business have moved to the immediate vicinity of the terminal. These companies either manufacture or assemble components for wind turbines such as foundations, towers and rotor blades.