In 2021 and 2022, SAL Renewables bought the jack-up ships Wind Lift I and Thor and carried out a number of projects in and near northern European waters. In response to the increasing significance of wind energy, the company changed its name to Atheleon on September 26, 2022. This marks a new stage in the path of the dedicated offshore unit for servicing, maintenance, and installation. For the US offshore wind sector, the Atheleon team is already hard at work on a major new building project.
“We think that the moment is perfect to continue our successful adventure in the offshore sector under a powerful, new, and independent name—Atheleon,” says Heiko Felderhoff, Managing Director of the Harren Group and Atheleon. SAL Heavy Lift occupies a dominant strategic position in project shipping, and we want to make sure that our clients are aware of the distinctions between the services we provide. We came to understand that the brands were too closely related. Atheleon will keep standing at the pinnacle of excellence and technical know-how.
Thus, Atheleon has emerged as the new industry standard for dedicated offshore projects, particularly in the renewables industry. Felderhoff: “Atheleon offers an amazing portfolio for its customers: we own all the essential assets, have a team of more than 50 engineers, and have a single point of contact for all installation and maintenance services. In the offshore industry, we have decades of experience.
The offshore jack-up installation vessels Wind Lift I and Thor, as well as unique vessels like the Mexican Giant and the VB-10,000 will all be marketed by Atheleon. The tight collaboration with OWS Offshore Wind Solutions GmbH and Wind Multiplikator GmbH will likewise continue undisturbed by the name change.
Atheleon believes the US market has enormous potential. Heiko Felderhoff says, “We are collaborating with our partners ONP Management and Renewable Resources International to offer an offshore wind installation concept to the US market.” The so-called Feederdock concept is a focused response to the expanding US offshore transport and installation business and will be Jones Act compliant. “Future wind turbine generations with a projected capacity of 25 MW and more can be installed with foundation weights up to 2,800 ton thanks to Feederdock’s design.”
It comes with a variety of innovative technical features and follows a strict green design philosophy. Atheleon defined vessel specifications with a crane capacity of 3,000 ton and a crane hook height of up to 182 m above deck as key performance criteria. According to Felderhoff: “We are confident that we will be able to bring the ship to market in 2026.”
Dr. Martin Harren, CEO of the Harren Group, emphasises the value of the renewable energy industry to the entire company: “In recent years, wind energy has grown in significance as a pillar of our company. We are committed to providing our support for the global energy transition. The significance of the wind market for our Group cannot be overstated. The next natural and consistent step in increasing our commitment in this market is Atheleon. While exceeding our customers’ highest standards and expectations, we provide a wide range of installation and maintenance services to the renewable energy sector.
