The Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engines that will power Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel Boreas have successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and are currently en route to the Chinese shipyard Yantai CIMC Raffles Shipyard (YCRO), where the gigantic jack-up is being constructed.
In January 2022, the Finnish technology company Wärtsilä secured its first order for five methanol-fueled engines.
The 175-meter offshore installation vessel will also be equipped with Wärtsilä’s MethanolPac methanol fuel supply system. According to Van Oord, using methanol as fuel will cut the ship’s carbon footprint by more than 78%.
The Knud E. Hansen-designed Boreas will be able to erect wind turbines with a maximum 20 MW capacity. The jack-up will be specifically designed for the transportation and installation of wind turbine foundations. The Dutch business Huisman will provide a crane for the ship, giving it a lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes.
The ship will also have a cutting-edge jacking system. The ship’s four 126-meter-long legs will enable it to be jacked up and operate in waters as deep as 70 meters.
For Boreas, which will operate under the Dutch flag and is anticipated to hit the market in 2024, the first piece of steel has already been cut.
Image source: Van Oord
