Van Oord reveals Vindnes and Vestnes for subsea rock installation. During WindEnergy Hamburg, Van Oord officially revealed the names of its two next-generation flexible fallpipe vessels: Vindnes and Vestnes. Scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, the purpose-built vessels will strengthen Van Oord's subsea rock installation capabilities and support the continued growth of offshore wind, interconnector, and critical energy infrastructure projects worldwide. As offshore wind farms move further from shore and increase in scale, demand for reliable seabed intervention solutions continues to grow. Subsea rock installation, pioneered by Van Oord since the 1970s, is vital for protecting and stabilizing offshore energy infrastructure. Building on more than 50 years of operational experience and the industry's most extensive dedicated flexible fallpipe fleet, Van Oord continues to set the benchmark in seabed intervention. "The need for secure and sustainable energy infrastructure has never been more important. With Vindnes and Vestnes, we are investing not only in additional capacity, but in a new generation of purpose-built subsea rock installation vessels designed around productivity, efficiency and sustainability. As offshore projects become larger and more complex, our customers increasingly require solutions that minimize project duration, reduce emissions and deliver the lowest total installation cost. These vessels reflect our confidence in the continued growth of offshore energy, and reinforce Van Oord's commitment to remaining at the forefront of seabed intervention," said Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director Offshore Energy at Van Oord. The names Vindnes and Vestnes continue the naming tradition of Van Oord's subsea rock installation fleet, complementing existing vessels such as Nordnes, Stornes, and Bravenes. Inspired by wind and the west, the names reflect both the fleet's maritime character and the future of offshore energy. They symbolize the connection between Van Oord's longstanding expertise in seabed intervention and its continued commitment to supporting the energy transition. Unlike many recent market additions developed through vessel conversions, Vindnes and Vestnes have been designed from the keel up as dedicated subsea rock installation vessels. This purpose-built approach enables Van Oord to incorporate the latest lessons learned from decades of operations, resulting in enhanced safety, operational efficiency, installation performance, and future fuel flexibility. With a loading capacity of 35,000 tonnes, Vindnes and Vestnes have been optimized to deliver maximum project productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Rather than focusing solely on vessel size, the design balances carrying capacity, installation rates, fuel efficiency, and offshore workability to reduce the total cost and emissions per tonne of rock installed. Advanced automation, smart sensors, and a DP2 positioning system enable highly accurate rock placement, while multi-fuel engines, battery storage, and an energy-efficient design contribute to lower-emission operations. Vindnes and Vestnes are currently being constructed by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore in China. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2028, followed by the second in 2029. Together, they will help Van Oord meet the offshore challenges of the future and further strengthen its position in subsea rock installation.

Van Oord names new fallpipe vessels with multi-fuel engines. Dutch marine contractor unveils two purpose-built subsea rock installation vessels due for delivery in 2028 and 2029. Van Oord's new flexible fallpipe vessels, Vindnes and Vestnes, feature multi-fuel engines and battery storage, and are said to have been designed with fuel efficiency in mind. Pictured: Rendering of Van Oord's vessels Vindnes and Vestnes. Image credit: Van Oord Van Oord has revealed the names of its two next-generation flexible fallpipe vessels - Vindnes and Vestnes - during WindEnergy Hamburg on 23 September. The Rotterdam-based marine contractor said the vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029 respectively, will add to its subsea rock installation capabilities and support offshore wind, interconnector and energy infrastructure projects. Design and specifications Van Oord said Vindnes and Vestnes have been designed from the keel up as dedicated subsea rock installation vessels, allowing it to incorporate lessons learned from decades of operations into the vessels' fuel flexibility, operational efficiency, installation performance and safety. Multi-fuel engines, battery storage and what Van Oord describes as an energy-efficient design are aimed at supporting lower-emission operations. The design is said to balance fuel efficiency, carrying capacity, installation rates and offshore workability, with the aim of reducing the total cost and emissions per tonne of rock installed rather than focusing solely on vessel size. Vindnes and Vestnes will each have a loading capacity of 35,000 tonnes. They are being built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore in China, with the first vessel due for delivery in 2028 and the second in 2029. Subsea rock installation Subsea rock installation, which Van Oord has carried out since the 1970s, is used to protect and stabilise offshore energy infrastructure. The Dutch firm said demand for seabed intervention solutions continues to grow as offshore wind farms move further from shore and increase in scale. Maurits den Broeder, managing director offshore energy at Van Oord, commented: "The need for secure and sustainable energy infrastructure has never been more important. With Vindnes and Vestnes, we are investing not only in additional capacity, but in a new generation of purpose-built subsea rock installation vessels designed around productivity, efficiency and sustainability. As offshore projects become larger and more complex, our customers increasingly require solutions that minimise project duration, reduce emissions and deliver the lowest total installation cost." | / | / | Dong Fang Offshore orders CSOV with battery-hybrid propulsion Vard secures fifth newbuild contract from Taiwanese firm, with delivery scheduled for 2028. | | / | / | Spain sets out regulatory roadmap for biomethane and bio-LNG growth Molgas outlines Spain's biogas targets, certification rules and adoption barriers across transport, maritime and grid injection. | | / | / | CSL and OWL launch first subsea rock installation vessel for offshore wind MV Rock Star can run on MGO and methanol and is designed to support scour protection and cable burial for offshore wind projects. | | / | / | Lloyd's Register study backs 200,000-cbm LNG carriers for fleet renewal Analysis finds larger LNG carriers could cut transport costs while retaining access to most major terminals. | | / | / | Höegh Autoliners signs contract for six dual-fuel LNG vessels Aurora Class ships are designed to be converted to run on alternative fuels in the future. | | / | / | IMO and EMSA gather maritime experts to address seafarer training for alternative fuels Experts examine how training frameworks must evolve as shipping adopts ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and other new technologies. | | / | / | Portsmouth port publishes white paper on UK's first multi-berth shore power system UK port shares lessons from five-year project in bid to spur nationwide uptake of the technology. | | / | / | IMO seminar examines technical hurdles facing ammonia as a marine fuel Technical seminar under the Future Fuels and Technology Project attracts over 800 participants. | | / | / | ICS to host webinar on wind-assisted propulsion for shipping Event to bring together panel of industry experts to discuss wind propulsion as a decarbonisation option. | | / | / | Portsmouth switches on UK's first multi-berth shore power system ABB technology enables Portsmouth to offer high-voltage shore power across three berths simultaneously. | | / |