Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium, has officially named offshore energy contractor DEME’s fallpipe vessel Yellowstone in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Environmental efficiency
According to the company, 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 1MWh Li-ion battery, enabling fuel savings. It is also Tier III compliant, adhering to the strict international regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to minimize nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ship engines. This sustainable focus forms part of DEME’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Rock placement capabilities
In the summer of 2024, Yellowstone will set sail for the USA to work on the coastal Virginia offshore wind project. For this project, DEME will install 176 monopile foundations, three offshore substations and subsea cables.
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 600-700m, along with a large inclined fallpipe which has been designed for shallower depths of 30-50m.
This configuration is expected to enable precise rock placement activities near subsea structures, such as offshore wind turbine monopiles. With its payload capacity of 37,000 metric tons, Yellowstone is said to be well-suited for projects requiring longer distances or transit times.
Yellowstone’s naming ceremony
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 referencing the future of the US offshore wind market, a key focus area for DEME.
“We were greatly honored that Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium, accepted our invitation to become the godmother of Yellowstone,” said Luc Vandenbulcke. CEO of DEME Group.
“Yellowstone embodies the innovation and excellence that DEME stands for, and the presence of Her Royal Highness at this naming ceremony emphasizes the significance of this great milestone.”
In related news, Auramarine recently won an order from Meyer Turku shipyard for a methanol fuel supply system and associated equipment for the Mein Schiff 7 cruise vessel owned by TUI Cruises. Click here to read the full story.