Posted on March 12, 2026
With four new vessels on the way and one undergoing conversion, we are significantly expanding our fleet for the installation and protection of subsea energy cables. Wouter Vermeersch, Director Subsea Cables Offshore Energy at Jan De Nul, provides insight into the reasons behind these huge investments.
Wouter, first things first, which new vessels can we expect to see in Jan De Nul’s cable fleet soon?
“In the second half of this year, we will bring the world’s largest cable installation vessel into operation: the Fleeming Jenkin. Next up is its identical twin, the William Thomson. Last year, we also ordered a new rock installation vessel to protect cables with a layer of rocks. And two trenching support vessels will be added, each equipped with a trencher that buries cables in the seabed. One of these is new, the other is an existing vessel that we are converting.”
We expand our fleet with two vessels, designed to safely bury cables in the seabed.
While the United States has largely put offshore wind on hold, Jan De Nul is investing heavily in this market. Are we swimming against the tide?
“The offshore wind energy train can no longer be stopped. The current geopolitical situation is giving that train extra momentum. Energy is more decisive than ever in the international balance of power. All over the world, people now realise that energy independence is crucial to the stability of our society. The recent North Sea summit in Hamburg is the best proof.”
What does the North Sea summit mean for Jan De Nul?
“Nine countries, including Belgium, announced they will invest 1 trillion euro together with companies to make the North Sea the world’s largest green energy hub. Every year, 15 GW of offshore wind capacity must be added, with the ambition of achieving a capacity of 300 GW by 2050. That is the equivalent of 300 nuclear reactors or 600 modern steam and gas power stations. The United Kingdom also recently auctioned approximately 9 GW of new offshore wind capacity, paving the way for their imminent construction. These are all signs that we are making the right choices.”
Wouter Vermeersch, Director Subsea Cables Offshore Energy at Jan De Nul
Where does this renewed momentum behind offshore wind energy come from?
“Until now, investments in offshore wind energy have been driven by climate targets. That has changed fundamentally in recent years. The driving force now is energy security. This awareness stems from ongoing geopolitical tensions. The priority now is to develop a reliable energy system based on locally produced electricity. Offshore wind energy has a central place in that system.”
Which creates the need for subsea cables.
“Exactly. To bring the energy ashore and to connect the energy networks of countries and regions. Because the better you are connected, the more options you have to feed your energy network. With wind energy from the North Sea or solar energy from North Africa, for example. In addition to traditional wind farms that transport energy to one specific country, hybrid offshore projects are also being developed. These combine offshore wind farms with interconnector cables that distribute the generated electricity between different countries. Our current wave of investment perfectly meets the demand for the efficient installation of these interconnectors. At the same time, subsea energy cables help electrify infrastructure for oil and gas extraction, reflecting the reality that fossil fuels remain indispensable for the time being.”
Jan De Nul also focuses on energy sources other than offshore wind?
“We install all types of infrastructure for all types of offshore energy: from wind farms to pipelines, from subsea cables to floating solar panels. Subsea cables are one of our specialities. We are also increasingly focusing on protecting and repairing cables. Burying cables in the seabed or covering them with a layer of rocks protects them from the elements and from deliberate damage – just think of Russia’s shadow fleet. And if repairs are needed, we have to be able to respond quickly. Because the energy supply cannot be interrupted.”
Speaking of natural elements, what does Mother Nature think of all these developments?
“It is a good thing that climate ambitions and geopolitics are now converging in at least some parts of the world. In the meantime, we will continue to innovate in order to minimise the impact of our operations and even make it positive.”
Explain?
“All our new ships are equipped with ULEv technology, short for Ultra-Low Emission vessels, which filters up to 99% of nanoparticles from exhaust gases. In addition, they can run on biofuel and we have made the necessary preparations to run them on green methanol. We also recently presented a new version of our Sunfish, an amphibious machine for burying cables in shallow water. It weighs 150 tonnes, but thanks to its special design, it has the footprint of an average human being. It is specially built to work with as little impact as possible in sensitive nature areas. Finally, we also have a department that focuses entirely on innovation, including projects to restore marine biodiversity. They develop blueprints that make large-scale nature restoration possible and affordable. Think, for example, of creating oyster reefs on rocks that we install to protect cables.
Our rebuilt cable-burying machine Sunfish
The eternal quest for efficiency also ultimately limits the impact.
“The impact and the price. We developed the Sunfish specifically for TenneT’s 2GW programme. Within that programme, we are carrying out four similar cable projects, totalling 2,000 kilometres of cable. This portfolio approach creates economies of scale that reduce both costs and the impact on the environment. We will keep exploring new ways to limit costs and impact.”
