Jan De Nul has ordered a new cable installation vessel to expand its fleet for the installation and protection of submarine cables. This vessel, known as Isambard K. Brunel, is an exact replica of a vessel introduced in March.
Details of Jan De Nul's New Order
With this new order, the number of vessels under construction by Jan De Nul will reach five, including two XL vessels for cable installation, one XL vessel for rock installation to protect cables, and two new vessels for burying cables on the seabed. The design of the Isambard K. Brunel vessel is based on Ulstein's design and will be built at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard.
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Innovative Technologies in New Vessels
The new vessels will be capable of burying cables up to five meters deep in the seabed and will be equipped with ultra-low emissions (ULEv) technology. Additionally, these vessels can utilize biofuels and are prepared for future operations with methanol. Wouter Vermeersch, the manager of submarine cables at Jan De Nul, emphasized that these two new vessels will soon enter the market. The Fleeming Jenkin vessel, which has completed its initial sea trials, is currently in the final stages of construction, and the William Thomson vessel will soon join it.
Investment in Cable Protection
Vermeersch also noted that investing in vessels capable of protecting cables at the same speed is a logical next step. Last year, Jan De Nul announced the order of the rock installation vessel George W. Goethals, which is responsible for protecting cables and energy infrastructure with a layer of rock. With the addition of Isambard K. Brunel and this sister vessel, Jan De Nul's fleet will reach a total of fourteen vessels for the installation and protection of submarine cables.
Furthermore, Jan De Nul is working on converting an existing vessel named Henry Darcy from a dredging vessel with water pumping into a support vessel for installation. This new vessel will be capable of carrying the Crayfish underwater robot, which specializes in burying cables in shallow waters.
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