Van Oord Named Two New Subsea Installation Vessels
The firm added high-capacity, multi-fuel vessels to its fleet to service the growing offshore wind market.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Van Oord has named two new flexible fallpipe vessels, Vindnes and Vestnes, which are currently under construction in China. These vessels are designed to support subsea rock installation for offshore energy projects, with the first delivery expected in 2028.
Why it matters
As offshore wind farms move further from shore, demand for specialized seabed intervention grows, driving operators to invest in higher-capacity, fuel-efficient logistics solutions. This fleet expansion reflects a broader push to reduce total installation costs and emissions in harsh offshore environments.
The two new vessels each feature a 35,000-tonne loading capacity, marking a significant advancement over Van Oord's 50 years of experience in subsea rock installation. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, respectively.
The players
Van Oord
A Netherlands-based international marine contractor specializing in dredging, offshore energy, and infrastructure projects.
Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore
A Chinese offshore engineering and manufacturing firm that constructs large-scale specialized marine vessels.
The details
The vessels are built with multi-fuel engines and battery storage, leveraging automated systems and a DP2 positioning system to improve precision in rock placement. By purpose-building these ships for subsea interventions, the firm aims to optimize fuel consumption and workability for projects in deeper waters. Construction is currently underway in Yantai, China, to meet the rising requirements of offshore wind infrastructure.
Timeline
Van Oord pioneered subsea rock installation in the 1970s.
The names were revealed at WindEnergy Hamburg in September 2026.
The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2028.
The second vessel is expected to be delivered in 2029.
Market Landscape
This investment follows the industry-wide trend of offshore wind farms moving into deeper, more distant waters. The development mirrors the ongoing shift toward specialized subsea support assets required to maintain complex marine energy infrastructure.
Operators in the offshore sector should monitor the integration of multi-fuel and battery-hybrid propulsion in these vessels as a benchmark for future regulatory compliance and fuel-cost management. This shift underscores the need to prioritize vessel workability and emission standards when evaluating long-term offshore logistics partners.
The takeaway
Large-scale infrastructure shifts are necessitating a move toward purpose-built vessels that balance capacity with environmental performance. Operators should audit their current logistics fleet efficiency against these new 35,000-tonne capacity benchmarks as new installations come online.
What happens next
The first vessel is slated for delivery in 2028, followed by the second unit in 2029.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in marine logistics and project infrastructure, see the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SWZ|Maritime.
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