en.Wedoany.com Reported - Boskalis has completed the conversion of the "Windpiper," making the new vessel the world's largest subsea rock installation ship. The vessel was officially named last Friday by Ms. Jones-Bos, a member of Boskalis' Supervisory Board.

The subsea rock installation vessel was built by Mawei Shipyard under Fujian Shipbuilding and has undergone extensive modifications, including the addition of two large rock cargo holds and the installation of an inclined fallpipe system. Equipped with seven thrusters and a DP2 dynamic positioning system, the vessel has a total installed power exceeding 31,000 kW, enabling precise positioning in operating environments such as offshore wind farms. Boskalis noted that the vessel's inclined fallpipe system, combined with the moonpool, allows for precise rock placement around structures such as submarine cables and wind turbine foundations, providing critical protection.

After the conversion, the "Windpiper" arrived in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for final outfitting and commissioning. As planned, the subsea rock installation vessel will undertake its first rock installation mission in the Baltic Sea offshore wind farm in the second half of 2026. The vessel features over a hundred single cabins for crew and client representatives. Boskalis currently operates three similar vessels, and the addition of the "Windpiper" doubles the company's total installation capacity.