Boskalis has brought its new subsea rock installation vessel Windpiper to the Netherlands for final outfitting and commissioning ahead of the vessel’s first assignment later this year.
The company described Windpiper as the largest subsea rock installation vessel in the industry. Boskalis announced the vessel’s purchase in January 2025 and developed it by converting an existing ship into a dedicated subsea rock installation vessel with a rock-carrying capacity of 45,500 tonnes.
Earlier this week, Windpiper arrived in Rotterdam. The vessel will undergo further outfitting in Waalhaven, followed by commissioning, before starting its first rock installation project in the Baltic Sea later this year.
According to Boskalis, the conversion work included the creation of two large rock holds and the installation of an inclined fallpipe. The company said this will allow Windpiper to install rock with precision on and around offshore structures.
Windpiper is 227 m long and 40 m wide. The vessel also has a total installed power of more than 31,000 kW and will feature more than 100 single-occupancy cabins.
