Van Oord’s brand-new offshore wind installation vessel Boreas was officially christened on 18 June in Rotterdam. Once it is operational, the Boreas will be the largest and most sustainable offshore wind installation vessel in the world.
The event marked a significant milestone in Van Oord’s commitment to enhancing the energy transition. In addition, Van Oord announced that it had become the first marine contractor to receive approval on science-based targets for its decarbonisation approach.
The Boreas was christened by Ms. Carola Schouten, the mayor of Rotterdam. Guests and Van Oord employees gathered to celebrate this memorable moment.
Wind turbines of more than 20 MW
The Boreas, named after the Greek god of the Northern winds, is purpose-built for the transport and installation of next-generation foundations and turbines for offshore wind farms. The vessel measures 175 metres in length and its crane has a 155-metre-high boom, able to lift over 3000 tonnes. With this new vessel, Oord is ready for future increases in scale in the offshore wind industry. It can install offshore wind turbines of more than 20 MW, with a height comparable to the Eiffel Tower.
Govert van Oord, CEO Van Oord: ‘The Boreas is the largest investment in our company’s history, a testament to our ambition to remain a frontrunner in offshore wind, accelerate the energy transition and perform our work responsibly. We lead our industry in adopting more sustainable green marine fuels; now, with the Boreas being able to operate on methanol, we have added a new chapter to our net-zero emissions journey.’
Also read: Amsterdam conducts first methanol STS bunkering with Van Oord’s Boreas
Dual-fuel methanol engines
The Boreas is a sustainable frontrunner in the industry, being the first vessel of its kind equipped with dual fuel-methanol engines. Operating on methanol reduces its carbon footprint by over 78 per cent.
Additionally, the vessel features Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to minimise nitrogen oxide emissions, and a battery pack of more than 6000 kilowatt-hours, which helps further reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
First project for the Boreas
After the christening ceremony the Boreas will head to its first offshore wind project, the Nordseecluster in the German North Sea, a joint venture between RWE and Norges Bank Management Investment. Van Oord’s scope includes the installation of 104 extended monopiles as well as scour protection. The 1.6 GW wind-farm cluster is expected to generate enough renewable energy to supply the equivalent of 1,600,000 German households.
Also read: Van Oord’s offshore giant Boreas arrives in the Netherlands
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
During the launch of the Boreas in Rotterdam, Van Oord announced that its climate goals have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), making it the first marine contractor to align with the 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway of the Paris Agreement. SBTi’s approval underscores Van Oord’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the latest climate science.
Van Oord submitted its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in May 2023, had an intensive dialogue on sector classification, and used SBTi’s Maritime Guidance for its fleet-related targets. On 1 June 2025, SBTi formally communicated its approval of all Van Oord’s targets.
‘This approval reflects both our commitment to decarbonise our operations and our desire to increase system-wide collaboration,’ adds Van Oord. ‘We invest heavily in state-of-the-art decarbonisation solutions, for example in our fleet. Still, we recognise that we cannot do this alone, reaching net-zero requires close cooperation across our entire value chain. We invite our clients and partners to join us on this path by integrating climate ambition into their own business decisions. Together, we can drive real change.’
Picture (top): Boreas in Rotterdam for its christening (photo by Robin Utrecht/Van Oord).
Also read: Van Oord welcomes offshore installation giant Boreas
