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World’s Largest Offshore Installation Vessel Christened In Rotterdam
Dutch dredging company, Van Oord’s newest offshore wind installation vessel, Boreas, was officially christened on June 18, 2025 at the Cruise Terminal in Rotterdam.
The ceremony was led by Rotterdam’s mayor, Carola Schouten, and attended by Van Oord employees and invited guests.
Boreas, named after the Greek god of the north wind, has been designed specifically to transport and install next-generation offshore wind turbine foundations. It is 175 metres long and features a crane with a 155-metre-high boom that can lift over 3,000 tonnes.
The vessel is equipped with four giant jack-up legs, each 126 metres in length, allowing it to operate in water depths of up to 70 metres.
This new vessel is currently the largest of its kind and is also Van Oord’s first in this category to run on methanol. By using this cleaner fuel, Boreas can reduce its carbon emissions by more than 78%.
It is also equipped with advanced active emission control systems, including Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which brings nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions down to a minimum.
A battery system of around 6,000 kilowatt-hours helps manage energy peaks and regenerates power, further reducing fuel usage and emissions. Additionally, the vessel can connect to shore power while docked, allowing it to run on electricity without using its engines when moored at a port.
During the christening ceremony, the vessel’s crew received the traditional shield of the Port of Rotterdam. This honor was presented by Ruud Hoogesteger, operational manager at the Harbour Master’s Division.
After the event, Boreas was scheduled to head directly to the German North Sea, where it will begin work on its first major project: the Nordseecluster wind farm. This project is a joint venture between RWE (which holds 51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (which holds 49%).
Van Oord’s role includes installing 104 extended monopiles and placing scour protection around them. The Nordseecluster will have a total capacity of 1.6 gigawatts and is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 1,600,000 households in Germany.
Alongside the vessel’s christening, Van Oord also announced a significant achievement in its climate strategy. The company has become the first marine contractor to receive official approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. This means that Van Oord’s climate goals are now in line with the 1.5°C pathway set by the Paris Agreement.
References: Van Oord, Port of Rotterdam
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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