Issue 78

S. Majer et alii, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 78 (2026) 504-518; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.78.29

transport, rail and maritime transport, road and maritime transport, as well as the reverse logistics chain. When longer distances must be covered within the port area, the transportation of heavy cargo typically requires the use of Self Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) or other multi-axle transport systems capable of distributing extremely high loads over a large number of wheels. An example of such an operation in the Port of Szczecin involved the handling of a 350-tonne transformer. The cargo was transferred from a specialized railway wagon onto a barge using a dedicated transshipment stand and heavy-duty handling equipment (Fig. 7). Operations of this type generate significant concentrated loads that must be considered during the design and verification of port pavements.

Figure 7: Transfer of a 350-tonne transformer from a specialized railway wagon to a barge in the Port of Szczecin.

Offshore wind components The offshore wind energy sector introduces unprecedented loading scenarios associated with the storage, handling, assembly, and transportation of wind turbine components. Modern tower sections, nacelles, monopiles, and transition pieces may individually weigh several hundred tonnes and remain stored in dedicated logistics yards for extended periods. Such operational conditions require pavement structures capable of resisting not only extreme wheel loads generated by heavy transport equipment but also long-term static loads and the effects of differential settlements, which may adversely affect handling operations and operational safety. For offshore wind turbines with capacities ranging from 12 to 15 MW, individual tower sections typically weigh between 150 and more than 400 tonnes. The heaviest components are the lower tower sections (base sections), whose weight may range from approximately 350 to 450 tonnes, while the intermediate and upper sections generally weigh between 150 and 250 tonnes. Even greater loads are associated with nacelles. In the case of nacelles assembled at the Vestas facility located at the Gryfia shipyard site in Szczecin, the weight of a single unit may reach approximately 800 tonnes (Fig. 7). Wind turbine blades also constitute a significant design challenge. A single blade with a length of approximately 85.5 m weighs more than 26 tonnes. To optimize storage capacity within offshore wind terminals, blades may be stacked in multi-level configurations. At the Offshore Installation Terminal in Ś winouj ś cie, a three-level storage arrangement is planned, allowing nine blades to be stored simultaneously using dedicated support structures and lashing systems. Such storage configurations generate substantial static loads transferred to the pavement through a limited number of support points. Consequently, the design of port pavements must account not only for wheel loads resulting from transportation and lifting equipment but also for long-term static loads associated with blade storage yards. Furthermore, the transportation of tower sections and other oversized offshore wind components is expected to be carried out using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs), which introduce additional high-intensity loading conditions that must be considered during pavement design and verification.

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