Jan De Nul Orders XL Cable Layer to Facilitate Energy Transition

Belgian maritime services company Jan De Nul has announced the order of an extra-large cable-laying vessel at the CMHI Haimen shipyard.

The vessel, named Fleeming Jenkin, will have an impressive cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tonnes and will cater to the renewable energy and subsea cable industry. It will be specifically designed for installing cables over longer distances and in deeper waters.

The delivery of the vessel is expected in 2026.

Jan De Nul says the order is in response to the growing demand for offshore wind farms that are deeper and located further offshore. At the same time, interconnectivity between countries and regions has become crucial for the economy and energy security.

“We stand firm in our belief in the energy transition,” says Philippe Hutse, Director Offshore Energy Division at Jan De Nul Group. “Following our previous investments in the jack-up vessel Voltaire and crane vessel Les Alizés for the installation of the next-gen wind turbines and their foundations, we now proceed with this magnificent cable-laying vessel. Thanks to her unprecedented capabilities, Fleeming Jenkin will be a perfect fit for the interconnector and export cable markets.”

The addition of the Fleeming Jenkins will bring Jan De Nul’s offshore installation fleet to four powerful and diverse cable-laying vessels. The company also boasts two offshore jack-up installation vessels, three floating crane installation vessels, five rock installation vessels, and two multipurpose vessels.

To operate its diverse fleet effectively, Jan De Nul has already started recruiting additional crew and staff members for the operation of the Fleeming Jenkin. The team will consist of dynamic positioning officers, engineering technicians, tensioner carrousel operators, cable-laying superintendents, and various specialized offshore technicians and engineers in civil and mechanical engineering.