Offshore wind accommodation containers

The first 24 containers have already been built in Haren, Germany, with a turnaround time of only three months from project kick-off, including design and development through to delivery to a offshore converter station in the German North Sea.

“We sat together with our customer, DNVGL and German authorities, who are responsible for the German “Arbeitsstättenrichtlinien (ASR)”, to create a new generation of container type”, said Hans Gatzemeier, managing director of ELA Container Offshore GmbH.

“With the new type we offer more possibilities of accommodating the people working offshore. Depending on quantity of extra accommodations needed and available space on deck, we can provide our clients with the best and most cost effective mobile accommodation solution.”

The 10m x 3m wide, 33ft, high-cube accommodation container has two cabins and an interior hallway which makes outdoor gangways obselete. These 2-4 pax containers provide more space per person, but have a weight that does not exceed 9.5 tonnes.

They have been built in accordance with the regulations of DNVGL-ST-E273 “Portable Offshore Units”, April 2016 and ST-E272 “2.7-2 Offshore Service Modules” Section 3, February 2016. In addition, the containers correspond to HSE.

All containers have fire detectors, fire extinguishers and emergency escape ways. After connection to the fire-fighting system of the platform as well as the PAGA system, Mr Gatzemeier said that the highest safety standards can be attained.

By Anne-Marie Causer