On September 15, 2015, Jan De Nul Group signed the taking-over of the offshore jack-up crane vessel Vidar, formerly operating for the German company Hochtief, the Group says in its press release. “With the Vidar in our fleet we considerably extend our specialized services for the installation of offshore windparks,” says Peter De Pooter, Manager Offshore Renewable at Jan De Nul Group.
The jack-up vessel Vidar is less than two years old and was specifically built to install offshore windparks. The vessel is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The large cargo deck space and payload and the lifting capacity of its crane up to 1,200 tonnes enable swift and safe installation of the heaviest foundations and other components of offshore windparks. The vessel is 140 m long and is equipped with four legs to lift itself above the sea level for stable working without impact of the waves. The vessel can install all kinds of foundations, as well as the latest generation of wind turbines, in water depths up to 50 m.
Clients worldwide are increasingly seeking an all-in solution for their projects with an integrated approach of design and execution. Jan De Nul Group recognises this trend and offers clients complete packages. The group was already well equipped for the installation of cables and Gravity Based Foundations, as well as for the installation of scour protection and other seabed preparation services. For the design and fabrication of the various components, Jan De Nul has its own in-house design and engineering and quality control departments. The investment in a jack-up installation vessel like the Vidar is a logical step forward thanks to which Jan De Nul Group can now offer a unique all-in solution to the offshore market.
Although specifically built with the offshore wind industry in mind, the Vidar is also suitable to install other offshore facilities such as tidal current turbines, wave energy generators, met masts and Oil & Gas infrastructure. And since all infrastructures, especially exposed to offshore conditions, have a limited life cycle decommissioning is also a service for which Vidar can assist our worldwide clients.
Besides this new acquisition, Jan De Nul Group currently builds three specialized multipurpose vessels for its offshore activities. The multipurpose cable laying and rock installation vessel Isaac Newton was launched in March 2015 and will start executing its maiden project by the end of this year. The other two multipurpose vessels will also be used for the installation of rock and cables on the sea bed and are currently under construction.