Boskalis repurposes mining ship into its largest rock-installation vessel

Boskalis has commissioned the Windpiper, which it describes as the largest subsea rock-installation vessel, in what the company frames as a striking example of reusing an existing ship for a new purpose. Built in 2018 and originally intended to support offshore and deep-sea mining, the nearly 50,000-gross-tonne hull was left incomplete after its first owners ran into financial difficulty. Boskalis acquired the vessel in 2025 with the aim of repurposing it for the offshore industry, and offshore wind farms in particular.

The ship measures 227 metres in length and is close to 69,000 dwt, with installed power exceeding 31,000kW, seven thrusters and DP2 positioning. It offers accommodation for up to 100 people, allowing it to carry project representatives alongside its crew. In the redesign, two holds with a combined capacity of 45,500 tonnes were created, together with a moonpool and an inclined fall pipe for rock installation.

The conversion doubles the company's rock-installation capacity. Its large carrying capacity is presented as a key advantage, since the vessel can cover long distances between rock-loading ports and project sites and make fewer round trips, saving time and cost during installation. The ship was christened in Rotterdam and opened to public visits before entering service.