The Belgian hydraulic engineering company Jan De Nul has now awarded the contract for the methanol marine engines for the XL cable-laying vessel “Fleeming Jenkin”.
Four 7,200 kW engines and one 1,800 kW engine, which can run on (bio)diesel, HVO and methanol, are to provide the propulsion for the Jan De Nul Group’s latest cable-laying vessel, the “Fleeming Jenkin”.
The “Fleeming Jenkin” is the first ULEv ship (Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle) with methanol engines. The order was secured by the Belgian engine manufacturer ABC Engines. The medium-speed engines can run on both (bio)diesel and methanol. By switching to sustainable fuels in combination with other technologies to reduce emissions, such as the 2.5 MWh battery, the new cable-laying vessel is expected to achieve a significant reduction in pollutant emissions such as CO2, SOx, HC, particulates and NOx. It, therefore, meets the strictest standards in terms of NOx emissions on land (Euro 6) and in terms of particulate emissions on land (Stage V).
The XL cable-laying vessel “Fleeming Jenkin” It will join the Jan De Nul fleet in 2026. It will be used to transport and install the 525 kV HVDC offshore cables for the BalWin4 and LanWin1 wind farms. It will be built at the Chinese shipyard CMHI Haimen. With a cable load capacity of 28,000 tons, it will be the largest cable-laying vessel in the world. The ship will be equipped with three cable carousels, two of which are mounted on the deck and the third below deck, as well as a large cargo hold for fibre optic cables. Up to four cables will be able to be laid simultaneously.
Jan De Nul wants to make the fleet fit for the future
“An important step that the Jan De Nul Group is taking to make its fleet more sustainable is the switch to renewable fuels such as methanol. In addition to significantly reducing emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, methanol also offers the advantage that it is already available in more than a hundred ports around the world,” says the company.
Jan Van de Velde, Director Newbuilding at the Jan De Nul Group: “The decision for ABC is based on a positive collaboration and a shared vision of a sustainable future. The result of our collaboration is high-quality engines that run on renewable fuel and are adapted to our ships and the needs of our customers. We are making our fleet fit for the future, reaching a milestone in our sustainability goals and, above all, making a positive contribution to the climate and the health of people and animals.”
