Cable-laying vessel for offshore wind farm construction launched
The Nexus was recently launched
According to the international contractor for dredging, marine engineering and offshore energy projects, the 123m-long and 28m-wide multi-purpose vessel will be deployed for installing electricity cables for offshore wind farms. It will be equipped with a huge cable carousel, able to carry more than 5,000 tonnes of cable, and a heavy crane that will enable it to lay heavy export cables. The vessel offers accommodation for 90 people.
The new Van Oord cable layer is based on the Damen Offshore Carrier 7500, a new multi-purpose vessel design with a spacious, flush working deck, which is ideally suited for heavy-lift or RoRo transport, as well as offshore installation capabilities. Offshore installation equipment can be mounted on the vessel and the design can be customised to create a dedicated ship.
Currently, Van Oord is making preparations for the 600-MW Gemini offshore wind farm, which will be one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world. The EPC contract is valued at more than EUR 1.3 billion.
Fifty-five kilometres north of Schiermonnikoog, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands, Gemini will consist of 150 4-MW Siemens wind turbines, which will supply renewable energy to 785,000 households. The new cable-laying vessel will be deployed at this site.
