World-largest and industry’s first dual-fuel fallpipe vessel joins DEME’s fleet

DEME Group has launched what is said to be the world’s largest fallpipe vessel, set to be prepared for green methanol and the first dual-fuel fallpipe vessel in the industry.

Princess of Belgium, Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, officially named the new fallpipe vessel Yellowstone in Zeebrugge, Belgium, on June 4.

This summer, the vessel will set sail for the U.S. to work on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project (CVOW), where DEME is installing 176 monopile foundations, three offshore substations, and subsea cables.

“We were greatly honoured that Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium accepted our invitation to become the godmother of ‘Yellowstone,'” said DEME’s 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.”

Yellowstone boasts a payload capacity of 37,000 tonnes, featuring a central vertical fallpipe capable of operating in water depths of 600-700 meters, along with a large inclined fallpipe designed for shallower depths of 30- 50 meters.

In line with DEME’s vision to become carbon neutral by 2050, the fallpipe vessel will be the first in the fleet to be prepared for (green) methanol and will also be the first dual-fuel fallpipe vessel in the industry. It has a hybrid power plant with a 1 MWh Li-ion battery, allowing significant fuel savings, and is TIER III compliant.

According to DEME, the name was chosen after an internal naming contest and carries on the legacy established by the company’s other fallpipe vessels, Flintstone and Rollingstone, while also referencing the promising future of the U.S. offshore wind market, a key focus area for the company.

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