Van Oord buys Bilfinger Marine's offshore wind business

Dutch offshore contractor Van Oord said today it has agreed to acquire the offshore wind operations of German firm Bilfinger Marine & Offshore Systems GmbH for an undisclosed sum.

The business being acquired specialises in the engineering, construction and installation of foundations for offshore wind farms. The transaction, which covers all assets and employees, is pending clearance from the German competition authority, Bundeskartellamt.

Meanwhile, Van Oord intends to upgrade its installation vessel Aeolus by replacing the existing crane, which has a lifting capacity of 900 tonnes, with one that can lift 1,600 tonnes. The new crane will be supplied by Rotterdam-based heavy installation equipment expert Huisman.

Also, the company plans to extend the transport capacity of the vessel. All modifications should be completed in early 2018. They will allow Van Oord to install larger foundations and heavier turbines at wind farms.

Currently, the company is completing the construction of the 600-MW Gemini wind farm off the Dutch coast. Next year, it will begin work on the foundations of the 385-MW Arkona plant in the Baltic Sea and the 660-MW Walney Extension off the British west coast.

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