DEME Powers Zeevonk Wind
DEME Wins Major Contract to Install Foundations for Netherlands' 1 GW Zeevonk Offshore Wind Farm
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Key Points
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The contract includes the installation of a filter layer for scour protection, in addition to the transport and installation of 69 monopile foundations.
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Felix Würtenberger, CEO of Zeevonk, said: 'Developing a project of this scale requires strong partnerships and deep offshore expertise. DEME has a proven track record in offshore wind and we are pleased to welcome them to Zeevonk.'
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Bas Nekeman, DEME's Business Unit Director Northern Europe, stressed the continued partnership with Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and highlighted Zeevonk's role in advancing the Netherlands’ energy transition.
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DEME will deploy multiple vessels for Zeevonk, including the Orion floating offshore transport and installation vessel for monopile installation, a jack-up vessel for secondary steel, and a fallpipe vessel for scour protection.
Belgian offshore contractor DEME has won a contract to transport and install the foundations for the Zeevonk offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, according to Vattenfall. The deal, worth an estimated €150–300 million, covers 69 monopile foundations and scour protection for a project targeting roughly 1 GW of installed capacity.
Zeevonk is jointly owned by Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Offshore construction is set to begin in 2028, subject to a final investment decision. The wind farm will sit 63–84 km off the Dutch coast near Bergen aan Zee, Marine Link reported.
What DEME Will Build and When
The contract covers more than just driving steel into the seabed. DEME will handle intermediate transport of monopiles, marshalling for primary and secondary steel, installation of all 69 monopile foundations, and laying a filter layer for scour protection, according to Ocean Energy Resources. Scour protection stops the seafloor from eroding around the base of each turbine.
Offshore construction is planned to start in 2028. That timeline depends on Zeevonk's owners making a final investment decision. At roughly 1 GW, the project would power hundreds of thousands of Dutch homes once operational.
DEME's Vessel Fleet for the Job
DEME will deploy a fleet of specialized ships for Zeevonk. The Orion, a heavy-lift transport and installation vessel, will handle monopile installation. A jack-up vessel will manage secondary steel, and a fallpipe vessel will lay the scour protection layer, Power Technology reported.
Each vessel plays a specific role. Jack-up ships lift themselves above the waves on giant legs, giving a stable platform to work from. Fallpipe vessels drop rock precisely onto the seabed to protect foundations. Using three vessel types at once reflects the complexity of a 1 GW project.
Quotes From the Project's Leaders
Felix Würtenberger, CEO of Zeevonk, welcomed the deal. "Developing a project of this scale requires strong partnerships and deep offshore expertise," he said. "DEME has a proven track record in offshore wind and we are pleased to welcome them to Zeevonk," according to Vattenfall.
Bas Nekeman, DEME's Business Unit Director for Northern Europe, pointed to an existing relationship with both owners. He stressed Zeevonk's role in pushing forward the Netherlands' broader energy transition, OE Digital reported.
Zeevonk Fits Netherlands' Bigger Wind Push
The Netherlands has been expanding offshore wind aggressively. Zeevonk adds to a growing pipeline of North Sea projects aimed at cutting Dutch reliance on fossil fuels. At 1 GW, it ranks among the larger single projects in the Dutch pipeline.
DEME is one of Europe's busiest offshore wind contractors. Winning a €150–300 million deal reinforces its position in Northern Europe, where demand for foundation installation is rising fast as countries race to meet clean energy targets, according to Marine Link.
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