Boskalis orders largest ever subsea rock installation vessel

Dutch dredging contractor and marine services provider Boskalis has ordered a new subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel with a cargo capacity of 45,500 tonnes.

Boskalis claimed that the vessel would be the largest SRI vessel in the industry, significantly bolstering Boskalis’ position in this niche market, which currently includes three existing SRI vessels.

With the introduction of the vessel, set to be named Windpiper, the company will effectively double its capacity and become the largest player in the industry. Scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2026, it is set to work on offshore wind farms with first projects expected to be located in northwest Europe. The shipyard was not revealed.

It is being developed by converting an existing new vessel. It will be 227 m long and 40 m wide with total installed power exceeding 31,000 kW.

In addition to its moonpool for the fall pipe installation, the vessel will feature an inclined fall pipe, crucial for the protection of offshore structures such as the foundations of offshore wind turbines.

The vessel’s substantial capacity makes it well-suited for projects with a long transit distance between the rock loading facilities and the project site, such as those along the North American east coast, the Baltic Sea, and the Southern North Sea.

Additionally, with over a hundred single-occupancy cabins, the vessel can comfortably accommodate client representatives alongside the onboard crew.