Van Oord has successfully installed monopiles at Hollandse Kust West Site VI, a project by Shell, Eneco, and Chubu Electric Power. The Dutch offshore contractor deployed three out of 52 monopiles using GBM Works’ VibroJet technology with CAPE Holland’s vibro lifting tool. This marks the first commercial-scale application of the silent installation method, as reported by the Ecowende joint venture and Van Oord.
Monopile foundations for the 760 MW offshore wind farm, produced by Sif and Smulders, will support 52 Vestas V236-15.0 MW wind turbines.
The silent installation, performed using Van Oord’s vessel Boreas, aims to reduce underwater noise and its impact on marine life. It involves vibrations combined with water jetting within the monopile to fluidize the soil, reducing installation resistance.
Van Oord and Ecowende noted the technology’s effective performance in the dense sand conditions of the Dutch North Sea. The seabed at Hollandse Kust West features some of the most challenging sand layers in this region, highlighting the significance of this successful method.
The VibroJet system, developed by GBM Works, uses the Fluidflow prediction model to manage water jet interactions with soil, allowing precise installation. CAPE Holland’s vibro technology, which reduces soil resistance through vertical vibrations, complements this method.
Boreas installed the first monopile at Hollandse Kust West Site VI in December 2025. This effort is part of Ecowende’s goal to create the most ecological offshore wind farm, focusing on minimizing impacts on birds, bats, and marine mammals while boosting biodiversity.
Data from the VibroJet and vibro installations will help validate models for underwater noise and pile behavior, potentially encouraging the wider use of low-noise techniques in the offshore wind industry, according to Ecowende.
Van Oord is tasked with transporting and installing monopile foundations, laying inter-array cables, and installing the wind turbines on site. The Hollandse Kust West VI, located 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden, is set to become operational by 2026, contributing about 3% of the Netherlands’ electricity needs.
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