Van Oord’s newest offshore installation vessel, Boreas, has arrived in the Netherlands after a nearly 14,700-nautical-mile journey from China. The massive vessel made a striking passage through the world’s largest sea lock in IJmuiden before reaching the Port of Amsterdam, where it will undergo its final outfitting and commissioning.
Currently docked at TMA Logistics, Boreas is being equipped with wind turbine foundation tools in preparation for its first offshore wind project. The vessel will be officially christened in Rotterdam this June before commencing operations.
Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director for Offshore Energy at Van Oord, emphasized the vessel’s importance: “Welcoming the Boreas to the Netherlands is a significant milestone after four years of hard work. We are excited to deploy this impressive vessel and contribute to the renewable energy transition.”
At 175 metres long, Boreas is the largest offshore installation vessel of its kind. It features a 3,000-tonne crane and a 155-metre-high boom, designed for next-generation wind turbine installation. Four towering legs, each 126 metres long, allow it to work in waters up to 70 metres deep, making it ideal for turbines up to 20 megawatts.
A step forward in green maritime technology, Boreas is the first vessel of its kind to run on methanol, reducing emissions by over 78%. It also includes Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to minimize NOx emissions and a 6,000-kWh battery system for energy efficiency.
