From Concept to Practice: Designing Demand-Oriented Logistics Service Models for Emerging Offshore Wind Markets – A Readiness-Adaptive Modular Logistics Service Model: The Case of Türkiye
Offshore wind (OW) is increasingly recognised as a strategic pillar of global energy transition, with rapid capacity expansion placing increasing pressure on maritime, port, and logistics systems. While mature OW markets have developed highly integrated logistics ecosystems, emerging markets face structural gaps that can significantly constrain project feasibility, cost efficiency, and investor confidence. Türkiye represents such a case: despite strong industrial, shipbuilding, and onshore wind manufacturing capabilities, its OW industry remains at an early stage, with logistics readiness constituting a critical bottleneck.
This project examines how logistics service models can support the development of the country’s industry by aligning domestic logistics capabilities with demand-side stakeholder expectations (hereafter referred to as ‘’stakeholders’’ unless the full designation is required for analytical emphasis) namely utilities, developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contractors. Rather than treating logistics as a purely operational or asset-based function, the study reframes logistics as a strategic, service-oriented capability that directly influences installation lead time, schedule reliability, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in offshore wind projects (OWPs).
The study adopts a qualitative, desk-based single-case study design, grounded in a pragmatist research philosophy and an abductive approach. It synthesises international offshore wind logistics (hereafter referred to as ‘’logistics’’ unless the full designation is required for analytical emphasis) literature with Türkiye-specific secondary data, including industry reports, policy documents, and institutional studies. The analytical focus is placed on the installation phase, identified in the literature as the most logistics-intensive and cost-sensitive stage of OWPs.
International analysis identifies six recurring logistics challenge themes:
(1) weather and environmental uncertainty,
(2) port infrastructure and capacity constraints,
(3) vessel availability and load optimisation,
(4) supply-chain coordination complexity,
(5) cost efficiency and installation time sensitivity, and
(6) data readiness and digital integration.
From these challenges, the study infers universal stakeholders’ expectations for which the most critical include early logistics involvement at the Front-end engineering design (FEED) stage, access to heavy-lift ports and installation vessels, end-to-end coordination, digital decision-support systems, and demonstrable cost-reduction capability.
A comparative synthesis with the national context reveals a structural mismatch between these expectations and current domestic logistics readiness. While the country benefits from a strong manufacturing base, capable shipyards, and strategically located ports, gaps remain in offshore-ready port infrastructure, turbine-class installation vessels, integrated coordination mechanisms, and interoperable digital systems. Risk and key performance indicators (KPI) analysis classifies port readiness, coordination, cost efficiency, and digitalisation as high-risk dimensions, with weather and vessel availability posing moderate-to-high risks under current conditions.
To address this mismatch, the project develops a Readiness-Adaptive Modular Logistics Service Model, adapted from Tiwong et al.’s (2024) Logistics Service Provider Lifecycle Model. The proposed framework structures offshore wind logistics services across three lifecycle phases:
- Beginning of Life (BOL) – service creation, FEED-stage integration, strategic positioning, and relationship building.
- Middle of Life (MOL) – operational and financial performance management using KPI-based risk assessment.
- End of Life (EOL) – service lifecycle performance evaluation, learning, and service reconfiguration.
The model’s modular and adaptive logic allows logistics service providers (LSPs) to operate effectively under uneven national readiness conditions while progressively building capabilities toward more integrated 4PL/5PL-type roles. It provides a practical pathway for aligning service design with stakeholder expectations, national constraints, and long-term competitiveness.
Academically, the study contributes by explicitly conceptualising offshore wind logistics as a service model, addressing the demand-side expectations gap in existing literature and demonstrating how frameworks derived from mature markets can be adapted to emerging contexts. Practically, it offers guidance for LSPs, stakeholders, ports and vessel suppliers, and policymakers on how logistics readiness can be strengthened through integrated service design rather than isolated infrastructure investments.
Overall, the study concludes that Türkiye’s OW potential cannot be realised through physical assets alone. Strategic, demand-oriented logistics services, supported by phased capability development and digital integration, are essential to reduce risk, improve project bankability, and enable sustainable growth of the industry.