The offshore shipping company Boskalis is expanding its fleet with another specialised vessel, a subsea rock installation vessel (SRI).
The “Windpiper” will have a loading capacity of 45,500 tons and will primarily be deployed in north-western Europe. There are only three of these vessels in the world.
With the introduction of the “Windpiper”, the company will effectively double its capacity, making it the largest provider in the industry, Boskalis announced. Delivery is planned for the first quarter of 2026. The vessel is expected to play an important role in facilitating the energy transition by working on offshore wind projects. SRI vessels are used to install rocks and breakwater structures in wind farms.
Boskalis doubles capacity
The “Windpiper” is being developed by converting an existing new vessel under the supervision of Boskalis. The SRI vessel will have a length of 227 metres and a width of 40 metres. The total installed capacity will be 31,000 kW. In addition to its moonpool for the installation of downpipes, the vessel has an inclined downpipe, which is crucial for the protection of offshore structures such as the foundations of wind turbines. Equipped with seven thrusters and DP2 certification, the “Windpiper” is specially designed for optimum performance in difficult offshore conditions, says Boskalis.
Thanks to its large capacity, spread over two cargo holds, the vessel is well suited for projects with a long transit distance between the rock loading facilities and the project site, such as the North American East Coast, the Baltic Sea and the southern North Sea. This large capacity will minimise the number of round trips required, which should ultimately result in fewer emissions and lower costs per installed rock volume. In addition, the ship, with its more than one hundred individual cabins, can accommodate customer representatives as well as the crew.
Boskalis has a long track record of converting existing vessels for additional and/or new purposes. This sustainable approach not only extends the useful life of existing hulls but also offers significant advantages when bringing vessels to market. The state-of-the-art design and capabilities of the “Windpiper” will enable Boskalis to meet its customers’ increasing demands while complying with safety and environmental standards.
