Sarens Supports Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm with Heavy Lifting and Marshalling Operations
- Meagan Wood
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
30-Second Takeaway
Heavy lift and transport specialist Sarens is supporting the construction of Scotland’s Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, one of the country’s largest renewable energy projects. The company is handling monopile transport, jacket lifting and marshalling operations across several manufacturing sites, using equipment including CC8800-1 and CC6800 crawler cranes and SPMT transport systems.
Sarens Supporting Construction of Scotland’s Inch Cape Wind Farm
Heavy lifting and engineered transport specialist Sarens is playing a key role in the construction of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, a major renewable energy project located in the North Sea approximately 15 kilometres off the coast of Angus, Scotland.
Once operational in 2027, the wind farm will deliver renewable electricity to the Scottish national grid via transmission infrastructure located in East Lothian.
Sarens is supporting the project through marshalling, lifting and transport operations across multiple manufacturing and logistics locations, ensuring that major offshore wind components are delivered safely and efficiently.
Global Manufacturing and Logistics Network
Major offshore wind components for the project are being manufactured in China before being shipped to Europe for installation.
These components include:
18 offshore jackets
54 monopiles
30 transition pieces (TPs)
Due to the large size and weight of these structures, the logistics process requires highly specialised heavy transport operations.
Sarens is coordinating equipment and technical expertise across several production sites to support the handling, weighing and transport of these large structures.
Monopile Handling at Qinzhou Manufacturing Site
At CWHI’s manufacturing facility in Qinzhou, Sarens is responsible for the in-plant transfer, weighing and load-out of 32 monopiles.
Each monopile weighs approximately 2,000 tonnes, requiring careful planning and specialised handling equipment.
Sarens also provided technical support during the planning phase, including:
Site layout optimisation
Production scheduling assistance
Design of transportation stools
Engineering of weighing supports
These preparations helped ensure continuous and efficient operations during the manufacturing and transport stages.
Load-Out Operations for Dajin Heavy Industry
Sarens also supported Dajin Heavy Industry, another manufacturing partner involved in the project.
For this phase, Sarens performed the load-out of 22 monopiles, deploying heavy transport equipment including:
80 axle lines of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs)
Four Power Pack Units (PPUs)
The load-out of three shipments containing the 22 monopiles was successfully completed in December, ensuring the components could be shipped to Europe on schedule.
Heavy Jacket Lifts with CC8800-1 and CC6800 Cranes
For the CFHI manufacturing facility, Sarens deployed two large crawler cranes:
CC8800-1
CC6800
These cranes were used to lift offshore wind jackets weighing approximately 3,000 tonnes each. The jackets represent some of the largest offshore wind structures currently being manufactured worldwide, requiring cranes with extremely high lifting capacity and precise load control.
Growing Offshore Wind Project Portfolio
The Inch Cape project represents another milestone in Sarens’ expanding offshore wind portfolio. Since 2023, the company has successfully transported and shipped more than 200 monopiles to Europe, supporting several major offshore wind developments.
As turbine sizes increase and offshore installations move into deeper waters, components such as monopiles and jackets continue to grow in size and weight.
Sarens continues to expand its engineering expertise, heavy lifting capacity and specialised transport capabilities to support the evolving demands of the offshore wind sector.
About Sarens
Sarens is a global leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services. The company operates a large fleet of crawler cranes, mobile cranes and modular transport systems supporting projects in sectors including energy, infrastructure, petrochemicals and offshore wind.
Website: https://www.sarens.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm project?
The Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is a major renewable energy project located in the North Sea off the coast of Angus, Scotland.
What components is Sarens handling for the project?
Sarens is managing the transport and handling of monopiles, jackets and transition pieces used in offshore wind turbine foundations.
How heavy are the monopiles used in the project?
Each monopile weighs approximately 2,000 tonnes.
What cranes are being used for jacket lifting?
Sarens deployed CC8800-1 and CC6800 crawler cranes to lift jackets weighing around 3,000 tonnes.
When will the Inch Cape wind farm become operational?
The wind farm is expected to begin operation in 2027.
