Boskalis will welcome a subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel to its fleet in 2026.

Windpiper will have a cargo capacity of 45,000 tonnes, making it one of the largest SRI vessels to be built. Boskalis expects the vessel's first projects will be in Northwest Europe.

Windpiper is being developed by converting an existing new vessel measuring 227 meters long and 40 meters wide and with a total installed power exceeding 31,000 kW and over 100 single-occupancy cabins.

In addition to its moonpool for the fall pipe installation, the vessel will feature an inclined fall pipe, which Boskalis said is crucial for the protection of offshore structures such as the foundations of offshore wind turbines.

Equipped with seven thrusters and DP2 certification, Windpiper will be specifically designed for optimal performance in challenging offshore conditions.

The vessel’s substantial capacity, divided between two holds, will make it ideal for projects with a long transit distance between the rock loading facilities and the project site, such as those along the North American East Coast, the Baltic Sea, and the southern North Sea. This large capacity minimises the number of round trips required, ultimately leading to fewer emissions and lower costs per installed volume of rock.

Baird maritime