Belgian offshore service provider Jan De Nul has placed an order at Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry for the construction of a jackup installation vessel.
The vessel, which has been named Voltaire, will have a crane capacity of 3,000 tonnes and is expected to support the construction of offshore wind farms upon delivery in 2022.
Jan De Nul reckons offshore installation vessels currently available on the market are facing increasing difficulties to install the next generation of wind turbines due to the turbines’ sizes and installation heights, as well as the ever-increasing foundation dimensions, and the new vessel is ordered to meet the new demand.
“Upon her delivery in 2022, we will be capable of efficiently installing the next generation of offshore wind turbine generators and foundations. This investment is a logical step forward in the development of our offshore wind capacities. The third jack-up vessel will enable us to cope with our increased number of offshore wind projects worldwide. In addition, we recognize the global trend towards larger wind turbines for increased green energy demands. The Voltaire will have all the required specifications to meet the upcoming challenges,” said Philippe Hutse, offshore director at Jan De Nul Group.
