German energy company RWE has reached a milestone at the Sofia offshore wind farm by installing the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore converter platform. Heerema Marine Contractors’ LNG-fueled semi-submersible crane vessel, Sleipnir, did the heavy lifting. 

The OCP, weighing 13,000 tonnes and standing as tall as an 11-storey building, was lifted into place 195 kilometres off the northeast coast of the UK in the central North Sea. With its two cranes capable of lifting 20,000 metric tons together, Sleipnir was the right fit for the job which turned out to be the largest lift in offshore wind industry.

Seatrium, in consortium with GE Vernova, was entrusted with the design, construction, installation, and commissioning of the OCP. This platform will enable the efficient transmission of the wind farm’s electrical output across a 220km cable route to shore.

Sofia, RWE’s largest offshore wind project under construction in UK waters, will have a total capacity of 1.4 GW—enough to power approximately 1.2 million UK homes. Once fully operational in 2026, it will be a significant driver of the UK’s renewable energy transition.

Want to learn more about these mega projects at sea, and how everything comes together consider joining Project Cargo Summit on September 17-18 in Bilbao, Spain. There are only a few spaces left so hurry up and book yours here.