Jan De Nul Group has placed an order at Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry in China for a new type of installation vessel for the offshore wind industry.
The vessel, to be named Voltaire, will be the company’s third of this type, but will be significantly more capable than its existing installation units.
With a crane capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes, the jack-up vessel is due to be delivered in 2022 and is designed to install next-generation large offshore wind turbines. It will also be deployed in the offshore oil and gas industry, primarily for decommissioning offshore structures.
Jan De Nul offshore director Philippe Hutse said of the vessel, “On delivery, Voltaire will be capable of efficiently installing the next generation of offshore wind turbines and foundations. This investment is a logical step forward in the development of our offshore wind capacities. Our third jack-up vessel will enable us to cope with the increased number of offshore wind projects worldwide.”
Voltaire will also be an environmentally friendly vessel that will comply with Euro Stage V regulations.The ship will run on gasoil but will be fitted with an advanced exhaust gas treatment system using a selective catalytic reduction system and diesel particulate filter.
In addition to the 3,000-tonne capacity crane, the vessel will be have a payload of approximately 14,000 tonnes and accommodation for 100 people. It will have four legs to lift itself out of the water and will have a DP2 dynamic positioning system.
Compared to Jan De Nul’s other jack-up vessels, Vole au vent and Taillevent, Voltaire has almost twice as much deck space.
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