Boskalis’ recently commissioned subsea rock installation vessel Windpiper has successfully placed the first rock on its maiden project. The rock is being installed at the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea.
Equinor and Polenergia Offshore Wind Poland are responsible for developing the offshore wind farms. Baltyk is one of Poland’s largest offshore wind projects.
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Record cargo of rock
Shortly after the christening ceremony, the Windpiper sailed to Norway to load nearly 45,000 tonnes of rock – a record cargo. Never before has a single subsea rock installation vessel carried such a large volume of rock on board for one installation project.
Using the vessel’s inclined fallpipe, the rock is being installed to protect the export cables running from the offshore wind farm to the Polish mainland.
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Windpiper
The Windpiper was originally built as deepsea mining support vessel MAC Goliath. Construction of the vessel was hindered by financial defaults and contract disputes. In late 2024, the vessel was acquired by Boskalis and converted it into a subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel.
With impressive dimensions of 227 metres in length and 40 metres in breadth, the powerful vessel boasts a total installed power exceeding 31,000 kW. In addition to its moonpool for the fall pipe installation, the vessel features an inclined fall pipe, crucial for the protection of offshore structures such as the foundations of offshore wind turbines. Equipped with seven thrusters and DP2 certification, the Windpiper is specifically designed for optimal performance in challenging offshore conditions.
The vessel’s substantial capacity of 45,500 metric tonnes, divided over two holds, makes it well-suited for projects with a long transit distance between the rock loading facilities and the project site. This large capacity minimises the number of round trips required, ultimately leading to fewer emissions and lower costs per installed volume of rock. Additionally, with over 100 single-occupancy cabins, the vessel can comfortably accommodate client representatives alongside the onboard crew.
Picture: Windpiper at work in the Baltic Sea (photo Boskalis).
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