Med Wind: a new ship customized by Seas Geosciences for geotechnical investigations

On March 19, 2025, a Renexia/Med Wind delegation composed of Matteo Pierabella, Project Control Manager, and Giuseppe Cillo, Project Engineer, visited Seas Geosciences’ newly customized geotechnical ship “BOS Princess” at the port of Civitavecchia. This visit marks an important step toward the completion of geotechnical investigations, which are essential for the advancement and construction of the largest floating offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean: the Med Wind wind farm.

The “BOS Princess”: technological excellence for the future of renewables

The ship, about 80 meters long and 19 meters wide, was specially adapted by technical partner Seas Geosciences to play a key role in the geotechnical investigations required for the construction of the wind farm. Previously, the “BOS Princess” has been used as an offshore tug for deep-sea operations, but thanks to the conversion carried out by Seas, it now represents a multipurpose platform capable of tackling the most complex challenges of marine investigations. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, capable of operating on seabeds ranging from 10 meters to the deepest waters, up to 4,000 meters. The surveys that are carried out include penetrometric tests and boreholes that are essential for collecting data essential for the design and construction of the facility.

A distinctive feature of the “BOS Princess” is the presence of the moon pool, a central “pool” that allows equipment needed for operations to be lowered directly into the water. This solution allows for safer and more efficient operations, reducing the impact of weather and sea conditions on the work being done. In addition, the ship is equipped with an innovative A-frame, designed and purpose-built by Seas to allow the drillers to be launched into the water with great precision.

A meeting of high technical and strategic value

The visit aboard the “BOS Princess” offered Renexia the opportunity to engage directly with the Seas Geosciences team. Seas President Paolo Casciotti, together with Phil Crawford, Commercial Manager, and Dai Nelsey, Geotechnical Lead, led the Renexia delegation during the inspection of the ship, talking about the progress of the work and the next stages of the geotechnical campaign. The ship is scheduled to depart for the operational phase on March 31, and during the visit the current state of the ship, which needed some final work on the deck, was discussed.

During the appointment, the Renexia team had the opportunity to examine the drilling tower, the moon pool, the refrigerated containers intended for storing samples taken from the seabed, and the sophisticated compressed air compensation systems, which serve to ensure the stability of the ship during operations.

Following the visit, engineer Matteo Pierabella and Marco Giugliano, Project Engineer of Med Wind, accompanied Giancarlo Di Simone, the ship’s representative, for an operational meeting on board the “BOS Princess.” In collaboration with PM Scarlett Mummery and site manager Callum Edwards, a pre-departure kick-off was conducted to define priority locations from which to resume the geotechnical campaign, ensuring efficient and focused planning for the next phases of work.

A decisive step toward the renewable energy of the future

With the “BOS Princess” set to set sail in the coming days, the Med Wind project is moving toward a crucial phase that will mark the future of wind energy in the Mediterranean. This collaboration between Renexia and Seas Geosciences represents not only technological excellence but also a concrete commitment to the energy transition. The geotechnical investigations that will be conducted in the coming months will lay the foundation – literally and metaphorically – for what will become the largest floating offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean, positioning Italy at the forefront of clean and sustainable energy production.

Med Wind is not just an engineering project: it is an ambitious vision that will soon take shape in the waters of our sea.