Van Oord’s new offshore wind installation vessel Boreas has successfully completed its first task, the installation of 45 monopiles at Nordseecluster A, the first phase of the 1.6 GW offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.
The Boreas is the largest and most sustainable vessel of its kind. Its inaugural project is expected to generate renewable electricity for the equivalent of 1.6 million households.
Van Oord was contracted to install a total of 105 extended monopiles for the Nordseecluster offshore wind farm, a joint project of RWE (51%) and Norges Bank Investment Management (49%).
With the installation of the first 45 monopiles, a significant milestone was reached. The remaining 60 monopiles will be installed in the second expansion stage, Nordseecluster B, scheduled for 2027.
“With the Boreas now operational and its first mission successfully completed, we are well positioned to face the growth of the offshore wind industry. This milestone underlines our commitment to the energy transition. It is exciting to see this magnificent vessel in action and we look forward to its successful deployment in many more offshore wind projects,” said Maurits den Broeder, General Manager of Offshore Energy at Van Oord.
In addition to the Boreas, Van Oord deployed its Aeolus offshore wind installation vessel to install secondary steel. The flexible fall pipe vessels Stornes and Bravenes were used for the installation of rock around the monopile foundations, to prevent erosion caused by strong currents and waves.
“The excellent performance of the Boreas on its first project marks an important milestone, made possible by the dedication, expertise and energy of everyone involved. The timely and precise installation of the first 45 monopiles reflects not only the vessel’s capabilities, but also the strength of our team,” concluded Henk Jan van Dijk, Project Director of Van Oord.
