CIMC Raffles and Dutch marine contractor Van Oord have signed a contract for the construction of a methanol dual-fuel subsea rock installation (SRI) Vessel, with an option for a further ship.
Following the successful delivery of what is said to be the largest and most advanced wind turbine installation vessel Boreas earlier in 2025, the two parties are renewing their partnership.
The new SRI vessel will be to the Ulstein SX236 design and will be classed by Bureau Veritas (BV). With a length of 199m and a beam of 32.2m, the vessel features DP2 dynamic positioning capability, it is designed to carry up to 35,000 of rock for subsea installation. The vessel features a fully electric propulsion system, powered by three Wärtsilä methanol dual-fuel generators, along with a 3,480kW large-capacity battery energy storage system. The total power station capacity exceeds 17MW. This hybrid system is intended to significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve load regulation and energy efficiency.
The vessel is equipped with six high-performance thrusters, enhancing manoeuvrability, redundancy, and station-keeping performance in complex offshore conditions. It is designed and built to BV’s Comf Noise 1 and Comf Vib 1 notations.
Harold Linssen, Director, Van Oord Ship Management Department, said: “We are very pleased to once again join forces with our trusted partner CIMC Raffles on this important project for Van Oord. This new chapter in our long-standing collaboration marks the construction of state-of-the-art subsea rock installation (SRI) vessels, designed to meet the growing demand for offshore energy infrastructure protection. This will further strengthen Van Oord’s leading position in the SRI market segment.”
Li Minggao, VP CIMC Raffles Group, added: “Teaming up again with Van Oord is a new testament to our customer-centric philosophy. CIMC Raffles will dedicate top resources and our best teams, upholding the highest standards of quality and efficiency to deliver a high-performance, environmentally friendly subsea rock installation vessel that will withstand the test of time.”
According to the shipyard, this renewed alliance will drive forward the green, smart, and efficient evolution of marine engineering equipment and set a model for cooperation in the global high-end offshore sector.
Image: Van Oord has ordered an SRI vessel from CIMC Raffles, with an option for a second (source: CIMC Raffles)
