On January 8th, Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. successfully delivered the BOREAS project to the Dutch company Van Oord at its Yantai facility. The BOREAS is recognized as the world's largest and most advanced offshore wind turbine installation vessel of the latest generation. It features a methanol dual-fuel main engine and an integrated battery system, making it the first truly hybrid oil-electric vessel of its kind. Additionally, it boasts the highest level of automation in the industry. Post-delivery, the vessel will be deployed for European offshore wind projects, where it will specialize in the transportation and installation of next-generation offshore wind turbines and their foundations.
As the world's largest and most advanced self-elevating and self-propelled wind turbine installation vessel, the BOREAS project vessel boasts a total length of 176 meters, a breadth of 63 meters, and a maximum operational water depth of 80 meters. The vessel features a maximum jacking capacity of 55,000 tons, a deck area exceeding 7,000 square meters, and a main crane with a lifting capacity of 3,310 tons at a boom height of 155 meters. It is capable of installing 25-megawatt offshore wind turbines. Key performance indicators such as its dimensions, jacking capacity, and lifting capability all rank first among similar vessels.
To meet stringent clean and environmentally friendly emission standards, the BOREAS project vessel is equipped with methanol storage tanks and five methanol dual-fuel main engines, reducing the vessel's carbon footprint by over 78%. The battery system marks a significant breakthrough by fully covering the functionality of one main engine. Additionally, the vessel is fitted with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational fuel consumption.