The Dutch specialist shipping company Van Oord is continuing to invest in the expansion of its subsea rock installation (SRI) fleet.
The offshore specialist has now ordered two new vessels from the Chinese shipyard Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore to meet the increasing demand for the protection of offshore energy infrastructure.
The vessels are scheduled to enter service in 2028 and 2029 and are designed to operate on methanol and biofuels. They are based on the proven design of the currently operating units “Stornes“, “Nordnes” and “Bravenes“, but will be equipped with several technical enhancements. These include a loading capacity of 35,000 tons, the handling of larger rock sizes and a DP-2 positioning system, which should enable operation even in challenging conditions with wind, waves and currents.
“This investment strengthens our role as market leader and underlines our commitment to innovation, safety, sustainability and efficiency,” emphasizes Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director Offshore Energy at Van Oord.
The newbuilds are intended to significantly reduce the CO₂ emissions of Van Oord’s SRI fleet. In addition to the multi-fuel propulsion system, a DC grid with a large battery storage system and an energy-optimized hull design are planned. According to Van Oord, the vessels will be designed for long-haul projects in order to reduce turnarounds and thus reduce emissions and costs per installed rock volume.
Van Oord is regarded as one of the world’s leading providers of subsea rock installations. The process has been used since the 1970s to protect and stabilize offshore structures such as cables and foundations against the effects of currents.
