Siemens Energy has signed a chartering agreement with ship owner Esvagt A/S for two new offshore wind service vessels commissioned specifically for Siemens' service operations at the Butendiek and Baltic II offshore wind power plants, Germany, both of which are scheduled to come online in 2015. Rather than the floating hotels that use smaller vessels or helicopters to access the turbines, the new vessels will provide direct access using an advanced hydraulic gangway system that will work to stabilize and provide safe access to the turbines at varying wave conditions.