Dutch marine contractor Boskalis has officially named the Windpiper, completing an 18-month project that transformed this vessel into the largest subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel in the world, according to the company.
The naming ceremony occurred last Friday, with Ms. Jones-Bos, a member of the Boskalis Supervisory Board, serving as the vessel's sponsor. Following the ceremony, Boskalis hosted an open-ship event that drew over 3,000 employees and their family members aboard the new vessel.
At 227 meters long and 40 meters wide, the Windpiper will double Boskalis' capacity for subsea rock installation. It can carry up to 45,500 metric tons of rock in two cargo holds, making it well-suited for projects that require long trips between loading facilities and offshore construction sites, while minimizing the number of journeys needed.
First announced in January 2025, the Windpiper was created by converting an existing vessel instead of being built from scratch, aligning with Boskalis' strategy to repurpose ships for specialized offshore tasks.
This DP2-class vessel features seven thrusters, a moonpool for fall-pipe rock installation, and an inclined fall pipe to place protective rocks around offshore structures, including the foundations of offshore wind turbines. The ship also has over 100 individual cabins for crew members and client representatives.
Boskalis expects the Windpiper to support offshore wind and other subsea infrastructure projects, with its first assignments scheduled in Northwest Europe. Its large cargo capacity is also advantageous for projects located further away, such as along the U.S. East Coast, the Baltic Sea, and the southern North Sea, where longer sailing distances mean fewer loading trips are both cost-effective and better for the environment.
By adding the Windpiper, Boskalis strengthens its position in the specialized subsea rock installation market, where the company previously operated three SRI vessels. With the new vessel now in service, Boskalis claims to be the largest player in this sector.