Image Courtesy Jan De Nul
Belgium-based Jan De Nul has placed an order for an extra-large cable-laying vessel, set to become the world’s largest in terms of deadweight. The order was commissioned at China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI), with delivery expected in 2026.
The vessel, to be named the “FLEEMING JENKIN”, is destined for cable installation in deep-sea environments, primarily to support offshore wind farms extending further into the ocean. Jan De Nul also anticipates laying interconnection cables between regions and nations as more wind farms become operational.
Jan De Nul has revealed that the vessel will have a carrying capacity of 28,000 tonnes, approximately twice that of other vessels in its class currently available on the market. Capable of simultaneously laying four cables at depths of up to 3,000 meters, the ship’s tensioners will handle cable tensions of up to 150 tonnes, specifically designed for heavy cables. It will also have a spacious hold for storing fiber optic cables and will be equipped with three cable carousels, two on deck and one below deck.
The vessel’s advanced features include engines capable of running on biofuel and green methanol. Furthermore, it will be fitted with a 2.5 MWh battery to optimize engine loading, provide peak shaving, support spinning reserve operations, and facilitate load smoothing. The ship will incorporate a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR), a diesel particulate filter, and a dual exhaust filter system to reduce emissions and pollutants.
The vessel will be named “Fleeming Jenkin,” in honor of Henry Charles Fleeming Jenkin (1833 – 1885), an English-born Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. He gained recognition as an electrical and cable engineer and played a pioneering role in offshore cable installation.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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