Ampelmann’s A400 gangway system has set sail from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on Vroon’s subsea support and walk to work VOS Stone vessel to undertake its first deployment to transfer crew and cargo in the Arkona offshore wind farm, located in the German Baltic Sea. The Walk to Work system will be used to transfer personnel and essential cargo during commissioning work over the next eight months. The A400 was designed and manufactured specifically for the offshore wind market. The ‘plug and play’ system combines motion compensation technology of Ampelmann’s A-type system with a 1.2 metre gangway to support the use of generic cargo trolleys and euro sized pallet trolleys. The system, which is controlled by a single operator, can transfer multiple personnel at a time in sea states up to 3 metres and features an elevator to support ‘stepless’ policies and increase efficiency in the logistical flow from warehouse to turbine.
