The subsea rock installation vessel 'Bravenes', designed by Ulstein for Van Oord.

Bravenes

Subsea rock installation vessel, suitable for installation of a wide range of rock sizes through a fallpipe in the moonpool, through a fallpipe over the side or through a tremie pipe over the side. With a DW of 14,000t, a length of 154 m and a beam of 28 m, the vessel can operate in depths of more than 600 metres.

Vessel Type
Owned By
Van Oord
Built By
Partner yard
Year
2017
IMO Number
9756200
Operated By
Van Oord

Primary Specifications

Length
154.4 m
Beam
28.0 m
Dead weight
14,000 tonnes
Draught (max)
8.0 m
Speed (max)
13 kn
Accommodation
60 POB

Additional Data

Design type
Subsea rock installation vessel (SRI)
Classification
Bureau Veritas
Moonpool
6.3 x 6.3 m
Installed power
2 x 3,840 and 2 x 2,880 kW
Ice Class
1A - PC7
Note: Specifications may have changed since the original completion date.
Classifications: CleanDesign, Greenpassport, ICE-1A
  • Naming ceremony of the Ulstein designed SRI vessel Bravenes, owned by Van Oord.
  • Bravenes Launch
  • The subsea rock installation vessel 'Bravenes', designed by Ulstein for Van Oord.

Ship history

Working in close cooperation with Van Oord, this is the first fully integrated design where Ulstein has been responsible for the development and integration of both the mission equipment and vessel design. SRI vessels stabilise and protect subsea pipelines, cables and other structures at the sea bed.

Rocks can be installed through a fallpipe inserted through the moonpool, through a fallpipe over the side or through a tremie pipe over the side. The vessel can perform subsea rock installation close to offshore platforms.

The DP-3 vessel is a unique design featuring the distinct X-BOW® hull line and meets the requirements for Clean Design Notation, Green Passport and Ice Class 1A – PC7. The vessel and its equipment are designed for year-round operability in harsh weather and high-sea states.

Ulstein has also supplied the main Fall Pipe Deployment system and the majority of the ancillary systems of the rock installation tower. Ulstein puts a strong focus on simplicity, by mechanizing the systems as much as possible, enabling higher levels of safety and control and as such minimising human interaction during the deployment and recovery of the fall pipe.

Its ability to load and install large rocks makes the Bravenes ideal for the offshore wind and cable market.

September 2015:First steel cut

December 2016: Launch

End 2017: Construction completed. Sailed to Xiamen for installation of the innovative Fall Pipe Deployment system. Final outfitting/commissioning at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam

May 2018: Outfitting and commissioning completed. Naming ceremony on 21 May.

End May 2018: The vessel will set course for Norway to work on various North Sea projects. From mid-July, she will carry out stabilisation operations for Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline that will stretch from Russia to Germany.

March 2021: An advanced combustion conditioning system with hydrogen and methanol will be installed on the 'Bravenes'. The solution will reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions of marine diesel-powered engines. The solution enables Van Oord to achieve substantial carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and black carbon (BC) reduction on the existing ship.

November 2021: For the Seeagreen Offshore Wind Farm, Scotland's and the world's largest deepest fixed bottom offshore wind farm, Van Oord has been contracted by Seaway 7 to install scour protection around the 114 wind turbine foundations. The wind turbines for this 1.1 GW offshore wind farm will be installed on three-legged jacket foundations. After the installation of these jackets, scour protection is required to prevent the effects of erosion. This is achieved with high-precision rock installation around the jackets, deployed by the high dynamic flexible fall pipe vessel Bravenes. Once completed, the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm will significantly contribute to Scotland's net-zero ambition. It will produce enough clean, renewable energy to power 1.6 million homes.

2023: Still active - IMO 9756200

Launch of Bravenes

Bravenes was built at Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, in Ningbo in China. 

The 154 metres-long and 28 metres wide rock installation vessel was launched in December 2016. 

How does the Bravenes work

Bravenes can carry up to 15500 tons of rock, and the vessel is equipped to perform three different types of rock installation. And to be effective, the ship needs to deliver pinpoint accuracy. 

Dive into the details and learn more about the fantastic capabilities of Bravenes. 

Movie copyrights: Van Oord. 

Ul

Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V.