Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel Boreas has arrived in the Netherlands after a smooth voyage from China of almost 14,700 nautical miles. To reach its destination, the gigantic vessel had to navigate through the world’s largest sea lock in IJmuiden, an impressive sight.
Outfitting and finishing will take place in the Netherlands, where the vessel will be christened before embarking on its first offshore wind project.
The Boreas is currently docked at TMA Logistics in the Port of Amsterdam, where the vessel will undergo its final completion and commissioning phase. Its decks will simultaneously be outfitted with wind turbine foundation equipment and installation tools in preparation for its first assignment. The christening will take place in Rotterdam in June.
‘Welcoming the Boreas to the Netherlands is a significant milestone for us after four years of hard work and dedication,’ says Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director for Offshore Energy at Van Oord. ‘We are excited to deploy this impressive vessel on our projects and to advance the transition towards renewable energy.’
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Largest of its kind
The Boreas is the largest offshore installation vessel of its kind. It measures 175 metres in length and is equipped with a crane capable of lifting over 3000 tonnes. With a 155-metre-high boom, the Boreas is purpose-built for the transport and installation of next-generation wind turbines and foundations.
Four giant legs, each measuring 126 metres, allow the vessel to be jacked up and work in waters up to 70 metres deep. All these features make the vessel ideal for installing offshore wind turbines of up to 20 megawatt.
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Methanol
The vessel is the first of its kind capable of running on methanol, a fuel that will reduce its footprint by more than 78 per cent. In addition, it is equipped with cutting-edge active emissions control technology (selective catalytic reduction) to reduce NOx emissions to an absolute minimum. A battery pack of about 6000 kilowatt hours can manage peak loads and regenerate energy to further reduce fuel consumption and the corresponding emissions.
Picture by Van Oord.
Also read: Van Oord welcomes offshore installation giant Boreas
