On September 21, Belgian offshore engineering giant Jan De Nul announced that it has placed an order for an additional trenching vessel specifically designed for the safe burial of subsea cables.
This new vessel is a sister vessel to the “Isambard K. Brunel”, which Jan De Nul ordered in March 2026. The “Isambard K. Brunel” is being built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) and is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
Like the first vessel, the new unit will be equipped to support Jan De Nul’s ambitions for reducing environmental impact. The vessel design accommodates the company’s Ultra-Low Emission vessel concept (ULEv), including advanced emission-reduction technologies and the capability to operate on biofuel and green methanol.
The option exercise marks another milestone in the relationship between Jan De Nul and Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. By selecting a second vessel on the same design platform, Jan De Nul reinforces its commitment to efficient, future-oriented offshore solutions while building on a design concept tailored to its operational requirements.
With the finalization of this new contract, the number of vessels Jan De Nul has under construction for laying and protecting subsea energy cables has increased to five, including two extra-large cable-laying vessels (XL cable-laying vessels), one XL-class cable-protection rock-dumping vessel, and two trenching support vessels. Once all five new vessels are delivered, the company’s total fleet for subsea cable laying and protection will reach 14 vessels.
Regarding the progress of new vessel construction, Jan De Nul announced that two XL-class cable-laying vessels commissioned by the company are nearing entry into service. The “Fleeming Jenkin” has completed its initial sea trials and is currently in the final stages of construction, with the “William Thomson” set for delivery shortly thereafter. Additionally, an order was placed in 2025 for an XL-class rock-dumping vessel designed to protect cables and other energy infrastructure by laying layers of rock.
In addition to newbuilding projects, Jan De Nul is refitting the existing vessel “Henry Darcy”. The vessel was originally a water-injection dredger and will be transformed into a compact trenching vessel. After the modification, it will be equipped with an undersea robot specially used for cable burial in shallow water areas. The relevant equipment will be provided by its partner Osbit.