Machinery manufacturing company Palfinger has secured a contract to supply seven PF200-7m davit cranes for offshore substations in the North Sea, expanding its role in supporting offshore wind infrastructure development.
The agreement with Dragados Offshore involves supplying cranes for five high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter platforms.
These platforms will aid the German transmission system operators Amprion and TenneT in connecting offshore wind farms to the mainland electricity grid.
Amprion substations will each receive two cranes, while three platforms for TenneT will each be equipped with one crane.
The cranes, which feature a lightweight construction and are designed for ease of maintenance, will serve functions related to lifting and access at sea.
Manufacturing is set to begin in the first half of 2026, and deliveries will continue up to the first quarter of 2028.
Final commissioning at sea is scheduled to wrap up by the fourth quarter of 2031.
This agreement represents the first collaborative project between Palfinger and Dragados Offshore, as well as the company’s initial partnership with Amprion.
For TenneT, the project is the third major offshore substation programme, adding to previous installations with Seatrium and Larsen & Toubro.
Upon completion, Palfinger will have supplied cranes for 12 of TenneT’s 15 planned offshore substations in German and Dutch waters.
In 2025 alone, the company secured orders for 42 davit cranes destined for offshore substations, indicating its sustained activity in offshore wind projects.
Palfinger Offshore Wind global key account & segment manager Iavor Markov said: “This collaboration and the growing demand for our offshore wind cranes further solidifies Palfinger’s position as a key provider of integrated marine solutions and highlights the strategic importance of strong, long-term partnerships in this market.
“We are proud to support the continued expansion of offshore grid infrastructure in the North Sea.”
In April, Palfinger signed an agreement to deliver 35 PF 200 electric offshore cranes for the Formosa 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan.
For more on the offshore sector see the first of a two-part feature in the current issue of Cranes Today here. Part two coming in June!
