Jan de Nul has launched its latest cable-laying vessel, the Fleeming Jenkin, at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China, marking a significant milestone in the company’s offshore energy capabilities.
The vessel, which has a loading capacity of 28,000 tonnes and measures 215 metres in length, is claimed by the Dutch firm to be the largest cable-laying vessel of its kind globally.
The launch ceremony signals the start of the final construction phase, including upcoming sea trials, with delivery expected in the second half of 2026.
The Fleeming Jenkin is being built alongside its sister ship, William Thomson, and will commence operations by supporting the construction of new 2-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind grid connections in the North Sea for the Netherlands and German grid operator TenneT.
Jan de Nul Director of Subsea Cables Offshore Energy Wouter Vermeersch said: “The Fleeming Jenkin combines all the cable installation expertise we have built up over the past 15 years. The entire vessel and the technologies on board were designed by our in-house specialists. The result is a vessel that operates very efficiently, reducing both the cost price and the ecological footprint of our projects.”
The vessel is expected to enhance Jan de Nul’s capacity to deliver large-scale offshore wind infrastructure while supporting the energy transition in Europe.
