Boskalis’ newest subsea rock installation vessel has begun work on her inaugural contract, supporting operations at two offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea off Poland.
Windpiper had earlier loaded 45,000 tons of rock in Norway and then transported it to the Baltic Sea for installation at the Baltyk II and III offshore wind farms.
The rock will protect the export cables connecting the wind farms to mainland Poland.
The two wind farms are being jointly developed by Equinor and Polenergia. The installation scope is meanwhile being carried out by Boskalis and Van Oord.
The 227- by 40-metre, DP2-capable Windpiper has a rock-carrying capacity of 45,500 tons, making her the largest vessel of her kind in the world.
The vessel underwent further outfitting in Rotterdam’s Waalhaven following her arrival in the Netherlands in April.
Windpiper was developed through the conversion of an existing vessel. She has a total installed power of more than 31,000 kW and over 100 single-occupancy cabins.
In addition to her moonpool for the fall pipe installation, the vessel features an inclined fall pipe, which Boskalis said is crucial for the protection of offshore structures such as the foundations of offshore wind turbines.
Equipped with seven thrusters, Windpiper has been specifically designed for optimal performance in challenging offshore conditions.