From Pioneering Project to a Symbol of Circularity: “The Arkona Met Mast Foundation” Was Dismantled and Brought Ashore to the Port of Mukran for Material Recycling
19. Januar 2026
The dismantling of the Arkona Met Mast gravity base foundation has been successfully completed. All planned work packages were executed with precision and adherence to the highest safety and quality standards. The project marks a significant milestone in the management and decommissioning activities for offshore infrastructure.
The consortium consisting of N-Sea and Scaldis Salvage & Marine Contractors NV and its dedicated subcontractor TASK Engineering GmbH prepared and executed the dismantling of the Arkona Met Mast gravity base foundation in the German Baltic Sea.
Arkona Offshore Wind Farm, located 35 kilometres northeast of the island of Rügen, has an installed capacity of 385 megawatts and is being operated by RWE on behalf of its partners.
The Met Mast provided valuable meteorological and oceanographic data for Arkona Offshore Wind Farm for almost 15 years and at the end of its lifetime, the lattice tower was removed. Now, the foundation structure has also been carefully and sustainably decommissioned. The gravity-based structure stood approximately 30 metres high, in around 24 metres of water depth, with a total weight of more than 2,500 tonnes.
All dismantled components were sorted and processed separately – steel and concrete were recycled, and electronic components were disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. All phases of the dismantling were executed in accordance with the highest safety, environmental and quality standards.
Henrik de Wit, Project Manager at N-Sea, said: “We are proud to have been part of this project with a team of professionals, each bringing their specific skills, which made this project a success. We also extend our compliments to the operations team of Arkona Offshore Wind Farm for their professional and constructive co-operation.”
“The Arkona Met Mast foundation project demonstrated how technical expertise, precision, and teamwork went hand in hand,” said Koen Roels, Project Manager at Scaldis. “Together with TASK Engineering, we were able to ensure that the dismantling was executed in a sustainable manner.”
Stefan Lindberg, Managing Director of TASK Engineering GmbH, added: “Sustainable offshore projects do not end with the last kilowatt hour — as in this case they come full circle. From installation to decommissioning, we approach every project holistically.”
Morten Lund, Managing Director of Mukran Port Terminals GmbH, emphasized: “The decommissioning of the Arkona Met Mast foundation demonstrated that Mukran Port was not only a starting point for offshore construction projects but also played a key role in the dismantling and recycling of complex offshore structures. This further strengthened the site’s position as a central logistics hub for Germany’s offshore industry.”
Sustainable Decommissioning
N-Sea and Scaldis were responsible for the full scope of the project, from engineering, offshore preparation, offshore lifting, transport to the onshore dismantling site, and sustainable disposal.
N-Sea, acting as consortium leader, was responsible for the overall project management, the subsea pre-survey, and the offshore preparation for removal, consisting of all subsea works such as preparing the foundation, installing heavy lifting slings, its guiding system, and hanging off the rigging. For the subsea preparation scope, N-Sea deployed the DSV Aquarius-G.
For the offshore lifting and transport, Scaldis deployed the heavy-lift vessel Gulliver, capable of lifting up to 4,000 tonnes. The Gulliver lifted the foundation and prepared it for transport to port. Offshore operations required precise technical planning and seamless coordination between offshore and onshore teams. The offshore operations were conducted during a carefully planned weather window to ensure maximum safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.
Once the offshore work was completed, the structure was transported in the hooks of Gulliver’s cranes to the Port of Mukran, where TASK Engineering took over the technical coordination, HSEQ supervision, dismantling, and material recycling as the dedicated subcontractor of Scaldis.
The project was supported by Fährhafen Sassnitz GmbH and Mukran Port Terminals GmbH (MPT), which coordinated logistics, site allocation, and port infrastructure. The Port of Mukran played a central logistical role in this operation. As a terminal specifically equipped for offshore projects, it provided the infrastructure for reception, interim storage, and handling of large-scale components. Its heavy-load areas, direct deep-water access, and proximity to offshore wind sites in the Baltic Sea made Mukran an ideal location for complex dismantling logistics.
