Brand-new Boreas installs 45 monopiles on maiden task

Boreas is the first vessel in the company’s fleet to be equipped with dual-fuel engines that can run on methanol, and it can operate in waters up to 70 metres deep, ideal for the new era of 20MW+ turbines.

The vessel also has an advanced active Selective Catalytic Reduction system to keep NOx emissions to a minimum, Van Oord says, along with a 6,000 kWh battery to absorb peak loads and regenerate energy.

The 45 monopiles are the first phase of the 1.6GW joint project by RWE (51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49%) in the German North Sea, which will eventually see 105 turbines installed.

The remaining 60 monopiles will be installed at the second expansion stage, Nordseecluster B, scheduled for 2027.

“With the Boreas now operational and its first assignment successfully completed, we are well-positioned to accommodRWEate the increase in scale in the offshore wind industry,” said Maurits den Broeder, managing director Offshore Energy at Van Oord.

“This milestone underscores our commitment to enhancing the energy transition. It’s exciting to see this magnificent vessel in action, and we look forward to its successful deployment on many more offshore wind projects.”

Van Oord also deployed its offshore wind installation vessel Aeolus to install secondary steel. Flexible fallpipe vessels Stornes and Bravenes were deployed for rock installation around the monopile foundations to prevent erosion caused by strong currents and waves.