Posted on March 31, 2026
Van Oord kicked off construction of the first of our two new flexible fallpipe vessels. This was done by cutting the very first piece of steel – the traditional milestone that marks the start of building a vessel.
Representatives from the Longkou (CIMC) Raffles shipyard, Bureau Veritas and Van Oord collaborated on this milestone. It is also a great moment to thank the entire project team for their hard work and dedication. 🙌
The vessel is expected to enter the market in 2028, with a second to follow within one year. Equipped with an advanced flexible fallpipe system, both vessels enable high-precision rock installation on the seabed, ensuring the protection and support of offshore assets including cables and pipelines. This investment supports the growing global demand for protecting offshore energy infrastructure.
Both vessels will feature a multi‑fuel engine (biofuel and methanol) and an energy‑efficient hull and rock handling system, contributing to reduced emissions and supporting our journey toward a net‑zero fleet.
