Boskalis unveils largest rock installation vessel
The Windpiper is being developed by converting an existing vessel
Source: Boskalis
Royal Boskalis BV has announced the conversion of an existing vessel into the world’s largest subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel, with a capacity of 45,500dwt. The Windpiper, due for delivery in the first quarter of 2026, will double the capacity of the company’s three-ship SRI fleet, propelling it to pole position in this specialised sector.
The 227m-long DP2 Windpiper, with a breadth of 40m, total installed power of 31 MW and seven thrusters, will have a moonpool for the inclined fall-pipe installation. This component is essential to protect offshore structures such as the foundations of wind turbines, for example. The vessel will have more than a hundred single-occupancy cabins capable of accommodating client representatives alongside the ship’s own crew.
The ship’s size and cargo capacity will make it well-suited to projects with long transit distances between rock-loading sites and offshore projects, Boskalis said. These are likely to lie in regions including the North American East Coast, the Baltic Sea, and the southern North Sea. The ship’s size will also minimise the number of round trips required per project, saving time, fuel, and emissions.
The Dutch company has a strong track record in repurposing existing vessels enabling them to carry out new functions. The company points out that this sustainable approach not only extends the useful life of existing hulls, reduces the need for new steel, and saves time in bringing ships to market.
The Windpiper is expected to undertake its first projects in north-west Europe.
