Posted on June 5, 2024
DEME is proud to announce that Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium officially named the new fallpipe vessel ‘Yellowstone’ in Zeebrugge, Belgium on 4 June. Boasting a payload capacity of 37,000 tonnes, ‘Yellowstone’ further solidifies DEME’s leadership in the offshore energy industry. This summer ‘Yellowstone’ sets sail for the US to work on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
‘Yellowstone’ highlights DEME’s commitment to advancing its high-tech fleet to meet the evolving demands of its global customers. Fallpipe vessels specialise in ensuring precise rock placement on the seabed, which is essential for safeguarding subsea infrastructure such as pipelines and cables, stabilising offshore structures, and preparing the seabed for the construction of wind turbines and offshore platforms.
“We were greatly honoured that Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium accepted our invitation to become the godmother of ‘Yellowstone,'” said Chief Executive Officer Luc Vandenbulcke. ” ‘Yellowstone’ embodies the innovation and excellence that DEME stands for, and the presence of Her Royal Highness at this naming ceremony emphasises the significance of this great milestone.”
Unparalleled rock placement capabilities
DEME’s expertise in subsea rock placement is well-established. As a global leader in this sector, DEME already operates some of the most efficient and productive fallpipe vessels throughout the world, including ‘Flintstone’, ‘Rollingstone’, and ‘Seahorse’. These high-tech DP2 vessels guarantee pinpoint accuracy and exceptional levelling capabilities, even in water depths that exceed 2,000 metres.
‘Yellowstone’ is designed to ensure versatility and efficiency in subsea rock placement projects. It features a central vertical fallpipe that is capable of operating in water depths of 600-700 metres, along with a large inclined fallpipe which has been designed for shallower depths of 30- 50 metres. This configuration will enable precise rock placement activities near subsea structures, such as offshore wind turbine monopiles. With its exceptional loading capacity, ‘Yellowstone’ is particularly well-suited for projects requiring longer distances or transit times.
Environmental efficiency
In line with DEME’s vision to become carbon neutral by 2050, the new fallpipe vessel will be the first in the fleet to be prepared for (green) methanol and it will also be the first dual-fuel fallpipe vessel in the industry. ‘Yellowstone’ has a hybrid power plant with a 1 MWh Li-ion battery, making it possible to achieve significant fuel savings. It is also TIER III compliant, adhering to
the strict international regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to minimise nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ship engines.
US market
‘Yellowstone’ has a promising future with a full project pipeline, including the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project in the US, where DEME is installing 176 monopile foundations, three offshore substations, and subsea cables. The name ‘Yellowstone’ was chosen after an internal naming contest among DEME employees. It carries on the legacy established by DEME’s other fallpipe vessels, ‘Flintstone’ and ‘Rollingstone,’ while also subtly referencing the promising future of the US offshore wind market, a key focus area for DEME.
About DEME
DEME (Euronext Brussels: DEME) is a leading contractor in the fields of offshore energy, dredging & infra, environmental remediation, trenching and marine infrastructure. DEME also engages in concessions activities in offshore wind, marine infrastructure, green hydrogen, and deep-sea mineral harvesting. The company can build on almost 150 years of experience and is a front runner in innovation and new technologies. DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, the reduction of emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of mineral resources. DEME can rely on more than 5,300 highly skilled professionals and operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world. DEME realised a turnover of 3,285 million euro with an EBITDA of 596 million euro in 2023. For more information, please visit www.deme-group.com.
Contact
Media relations Investor relations
Frederic Dryhoel Carl Vanden Bussche
dryhoel.frederic@deme-group.com vanden.bussche.carl@deme-group.com
+32 473 86 31 91 +32 498 90 61 13
