Van Oord orders mega ship to install 20 MW offshore wind foundations and turbines

08 October 2021

The ship is expected to enter the market in 2024 (sailing under the Dutch flag). The new offshore installation vessel will be the sister ship of the offshore support vessel Aeolus.

Offshore wind is a key contributor to achieving climate change targets around the world. Since its initial involvement in wind farm installation in 2002, Van Oord has become a frontrunner in this industry. In the Netherlands, Van Oord was one of the first offshore companies (first time mover) to invest in Offshore Wind.

The demand for offshore wind farms remains high. Wind turbines at sea are also rapidly getting bigger. In 2002 there were wind turbines of 2 MW, nowadays turbines of 14 MW are installed. The rotor blades are already well over a hundred metres long and the transport and installation requires larger ships. Van Oord is investing in a new vessel to transport and install the next generation of 20 MW wind turbines.

The new 175-metre offshore installation vessel will be purpose-built for the transport and installation of foundations and turbines at offshore wind farms. With a top-class crane - supplied by the Dutch company Huisman - it can lift more than 3,000 tonnes.

Source: Van Oord