Van Oord

Graduate

Join Van Oord in Gorinchem as a Graduate working on offshore wind subsea engineering research. Choose between cable burial automation or cable protection stabilization. Benefit from expert guidance, a graduation allowance, and engaging community events.
Van Oord
Van Oord Gorinchem, the Netherlands On-site Internship UTC+01:00

Van Oord

Company Overview

Name

Van Oord, a private family-owned company

Headquarters

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Founded

1868

Size

Approximately 6,300 employees worldwide with a revenue of €2.59 billion in 2025 (source: vanoord.com)

What They Do

Van Oord is a leading Dutch maritime contractor specializing in dredging, offshore energy infrastructure, and marine construction. The company focuses on building and maintaining ports, waterways, and coastal protection, as well as the transport and installation of offshore wind turbines and subsea rock installation (source: vanoord.com). Van Oord operates globally in 28 countries within dredging and infrastructure projects and in 17 countries in offshore energy, utilizing an integrated execution model and a specialized fleet capable of handling technically demanding marine environments (source: vanoord.com). Offshore energy activities represent a significant part of the revenue, with a focus on industrial engineering rather than energy production (source: vanoord.com). The company continuously invests in innovative vessels, such as the new generation of methanol-powered subsea rock installation vessels featuring advanced automation (source: windfair.net).

Projects & Experience

Van Oord has an impressive track record with large-scale projects in dredging, coastal protection, and offshore wind energy. The company completed the full scope of work for RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm in the North Sea, including the installation of 100 monopile foundations and approximately 360 kilometers of inter-array cables for a 1.4 GW project with 100 turbines of 14 MW each (source: rwe.com). Additionally, Van Oord is active in the Holland Coast West project by Ecowende, responsible for the transport and installation of foundations, scour protection, cables, and turbines (source: spie.com). In dredging and coastal works, projects include coastal protection in Constanta (Romania), dike reinforcement near Tiel-Waardenburg, maintenance dredging in Brazil and Canada, and beach nourishment along the Dutch coast (source: vanoord.com). Van Oord also played a key role in the A16 highway project through the De Groene Boog consortium, with a 20-year maintenance period (source: vanoord.com).

Recent Developments

Over the past two years, Van Oord has secured multiple major contracts in both maritime infrastructure and offshore wind. In 2024, the company won maintenance dredging contracts in the ports of Paranaguá (Brazil), Mumbai (India), and a preparatory dredging job in Malmporten (Sweden), alongside land reclamation projects in Ras al-Khaimah (UAE) (source: dredgingtoday.com). In 2025, the IJsselmeer dike reinforcement contract was awarded in partnership with Boskalis, as well as long-term maintenance dredging agreements for the Fraser River in Vancouver and Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil (source: cyprusshippingnews.com). Van Oord also expanded its offshore fleet with the christening of the new offshore wind installation vessel Boreas in Rotterdam and ordered two new subsea rock installation vessels to be delivered from 2028 (source: vanoord.com, windfair.net).

Careers at Van Oord

Van Oord offers a wide range of roles across engineering, project execution, maritime operations, vessel crewing, commercial management, finance, procurement, safety, and project support. The organization emphasizes a strong safety culture, evidenced by winning the IADC Safety Award 2025, a prestigious recognition in the high-risk maritime sector (source: vanoord.com). Candidates can focus on positions in offshore wind installation, subsea rock installation, dredging, coastal engineering, civil and marine construction, maritime operations, and technical roles aboard vessels. With headquarters in Rotterdam and projects across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, Van Oord is an attractive employer for professionals seeking an international career in maritime projects (source: vanoord.com).

Last updated on Aug 31, 2026 | Report an issue

Job Description

From our office in Gorinchem, you get the chance to turn your graduation research into something with real impact. You will work on a topic that connects engineering with the future of offshore wind. You can choose between two graduation assignments within Subsea Engineering, Cables & Pipelines. One focuses on automation and operational excellence in cable burial. The other explores smarter ways to stabilize cable protection systems. You will work with experts and turn your findings into recommendations that can help shape future projects.

THE POSITION

As a graduation student within Tender & Engineering, you will work on one of two research topics within Subsea Engineering, Cables & Pipelines. Both assignments address challenges that matter to the safe and reliable installation of offshore cables. Depending on your interests, you can focus on improving cable burial operations through sensor data, visualization and automation concepts. Alternatively, you can investigate how cable protection systems can be stabilized more effectively from both a technical and commercial perspective. In both cases, you will combine research with practical input from people working on offshore wind projects. You will have room to explore your own ideas and translate your findings into useful recommendations. Your work will contribute to improving how we prepare for and execute future projects.

YOUR IMPACT

Your graduation research will help us look at an existing offshore challenge from a new perspective. You will analyse the current situation, identify opportunities for improvement and develop recommendations that can support future projects. The exact focus depends on the assignment you choose, but both topics require you to connect technical knowledge with practical project needs. You will work with relevant stakeholders and test your ideas against realistic operational or project scenarios. Your research will result in a final thesis with clear findings and recommendations. Depending on your chosen topic, your work may include:

  • Analysing operational or technical challenges in offshore cable installation
  • Investigating data, technology or alternative engineering concepts
  • Assessing risks, limitations and opportunities for improvement
  • Working with stakeholders to test and validate your findings
  • Developing practical recommendations for future offshore wind projects

You will join Tender & Engineering in Gorinchem. Here, engineers and other specialists work together on complex offshore wind projects. You will be surrounded by people who combine technical knowledge with practical experience. You can ask questions, share ideas and learn from colleagues who work on projects that take place around the world.

At Van Oord, we build the future together. Our work connects people, technology and engineering to create solutions for a changing world. You will get the opportunity to contribute to that work while developing your own knowledge and experience.

ABOUT YOU

You are curious about how engineering solutions can improve offshore operations and project execution. You like to understand a problem before looking for a solution. You can work independently while actively involving others in your research. You are comfortable analysing information and turning your findings into clear recommendations. For this graduation assignment, we are looking for someone with:

  • A Master student in the field of Mechanical Engineering, Offshore Engineering or something similar.
  • An interest in subsea engineering, offshore wind or cable installation
  • An analytical approach to technical or project related challenges
  • The ability to structure research and communicate clear conclusions

WE OFFER

We offer you the opportunity to contribute to real engineering challenges that impact our global project. In addition, we offer:

  • A graduation internship allowance
  • Intensive supervision from experienced engineers
  • Communities to join, such as Young Van Oord, Van Oord Women, and the Van Oord staff association
  • Various events and sports activities, such as skiing, sailing weekends, cycling, and motorcycling

Interested in this vacancy?

You can apply by clicking 'Apply'. If you have any questions please contact our recruiter that can tell you more:

Esli Juliana

Corporate Recruiter +31 6 51 38 71 21Send an email

Apply now

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About the role

September 9, 2026

September 9, 2026

Internship

On-site

Company

Wind Energy

Van Oord

vanoord.com

  •  Gorinchem, the Netherlands

Master student

UTC+01:00

Tags

Offshore Wind Energy · Subsea Control Systems · Engineering Management