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Jan De Nul Launches ‘Fleeming Jenkin,’ the World’s Largest Cable-Laying Vessel

The XL ship moves into sea trials ahead of a 2026 delivery to start installing TenneT’s next‑generation 2 GW offshore grid links.

Overview

  • The vessel was launched by flooding the dry dock at CMHI Haimen in China on October 21 and has entered final construction and sea-trial preparations.
  • With a 28,000 t cable-carrying capacity, the ship features three carousels (two on deck and one below) and can lay up to four cables simultaneously.
  • Delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2026, when the vessel will begin work on TenneT’s 2 GW program connecting offshore wind to the Dutch and German grids.
  • Its first campaign covers four connections totaling more than 2,800 km of cable installed over a route exceeding 700 km.
  • Classed as an ultra‑low emission vessel, it can run on biofuel and green methanol and uses a hybrid power plant with a 2.5 MWh battery; Jan De Nul is also expanding its fleet with twin vessel William Thomson and the SRIV George W. Goethals.