Today Jan De Nul Group named today its latest fleet addition, the offshore installation vessel Taillevent, in the Belgian port of Ostend. The christening was performed by Miss Pauline Stassijns, granddaughter of Director Dirk De Nul, in the presence of family, employees and their guests.
The vessel was formerly known as the MPI Discovery but was acquired from previous owner Vroon Group in July this year. The 2011 built Taillevent is designed specifically for the transport and installation of offshore wind turbines and their foundations but is also suited to other offshore sectors. The Taillevent is 140 meters long and can operate in up to 40 metres of water depth. It is equipped with six spuds to lift the vessel out of the water in order to be able to work in stable conditions. The on-board crane has a lifting capacity of 1,000 tonnes. The auxiliary crane has a capacity of 50 tonnes.
Among the guests was Bart Tommelein, Flemish Vice Minister-President of the Flemish Government, Flemish Minister for Budget, Finances and Energy, a supporter of green energy production, who gave a speech: “The offshore sector is important for our Belgian economy. Thousands of jobs derive directly or indirectly from the construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbines. Not only in our country, but also worldwide. I am happy to welcome the Taillevent of Jan De Nul Group as a new asset in our switch to renewable energy.”
Philippe Hutse, Offshore Director at Jan De Nul Group: “We have been investing a lot in staff, expertise and equipment for our offshore activities. In 2015, we acquired the Vole au vent, and this summer the Taillevent; both specialized vessels for the installation of offshore wind farms. Meanwhile our newbuilding department works on more fleet expansion plans. These investments are key for Jan De Nul Group’s growth.”
Peter De Pooter, Manager Offshore Renewables at Jan De Nul Group: “The Taillevent is complementary to our Vole au vent and will enable us to further develop and expand our offshore wind expertise. Having two offshore installation vessels in our fleet, we can serve the industry better and respond more quickly to needs. We already executed a number of comprehensive wind projects in Europe and look ahead with confidence and enthusiasm.”
All Jan de Nul’s vessel names refer to significant historical figures that have one thing in common: the art and passion for innovation and progress. Taillevent literally means “cutting the wind”. It was the nickname of Guillaume Tirel, the Bocuse of the fourteenth century who played a very prominent role in French culinary history. He received this nickname because of the agility with which he flashed through the kitchen.
Jan De Nul Group has executed several offshore wind projects in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany. Last spring, Jan De Nul secured its first offshore wind projects outside Europe: the design and installation of the offshore wind farms Changhua and Formosa 1 Phase 2, the very first offshore wind farms in Taiwan. More specifically in Belgium, Jan De Nul installed the Nobelwind farm with 50 turbines of 3.3MW each in 2016. In 2019, the Group will commence with the installation of the Northwester 2 wind farm with 23 turbines of 9.5MW each, the largest offshore wind turbines in the world.
