Van Oord has revealed the names of its two next-generation flexible fallpipe vessels, Vindnes and Vestnes, during WindEnergy Hamburg.
Scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, the purpose-built vessels will expand Van Oord’s subsea rock installation capacity for offshore wind, interconnector and wider energy infrastructure projects.
Each vessel will offer a loading capacity of 35,000 tonnes and has been designed specifically for subsea rock installation rather than converted from an existing platform.
The design focuses on balancing carrying capacity, installation rates, fuel efficiency and offshore workability to reduce project duration and emissions per tonne of rock installed.
Advanced automation, smart sensors and DP2 positioning will support accurate rock placement, while multi-fuel engines and battery storage are intended to reduce fuel consumption and improve operational efficiency.
“The need for secure and sustainable energy infrastructure has never been more important,” said Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director Offshore Energy at Van Oord.
He added that the new vessels are designed around productivity, efficiency and sustainability as offshore projects continue to increase in scale and complexity.
Vindnes and Vestnes will join Van Oord’s existing subsea rock installation fleet, which includes Nordnes, Stornes and Bravenes.
Both vessels are being built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore in China, with the first due for delivery in 2028 and the second in 2029.
