Van Oord Unveils Groundbreaking Offshore Installation Vessel, Boreas

Van Oord recently celebrated the delivery of its revolutionary offshore installation vessel, Boreas, at a ceremony held at China’s Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard. The vessel is a game-changer in offshore wind installation capabilities and environmental sustainability.

Named after the Greek god of Northern winds, Boreas sets new industry standards as the world’s largest offshore wind turbine installation vessel. Standing at 175 meters in length with a 155-meter-high boom capable of lifting over 3,000 tonnes, it surpasses all others in size and capability. The vessel’s four 126-meter legs enable operations in waters up to 70 meters deep, facilitating the installation of powerful 20 MW offshore wind turbines.

In a significant environmental advancement, Boreas is leading the way in using methanol as a fuel source, achieving an impressive 78% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional vessels.

Harold Linssen, Director of Ship Management Department at Van Oord, expressed excitement about the vessel’s delivery, stating, “We are looking forward to welcoming this beautiful vessel to our fleet!”

Prior to commencing commercial operations in the third quarter of 2025, Boreas will undergo final outfitting in the Netherlands, including the installation of specialized equipment for wind turbine foundation handling.

The vessel’s inaugural assignment is the Nordseecluster offshore wind project in Germany, a 1.6 GW development set to provide clean energy to approximately 1.6 million German households. The project involves installing 104 extended monopiles, with 44 planned for 2025 and the remaining 60 scheduled for 2027.

“Boreas is a benchmark for the offshore wind industry and will play a significant role in the transportation and installation of the next generation of foundations and up to 20MW offshore wind turbines at sea,” remarked CIMC Raffles Group Vice President, Mr. Zhao Hui.