Jan De Nul’s jack-up installation vessel Voltaire is taking shape at the COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China. The latest milestone in the construction has been the installation of the main crane with more than 3,000 tonnes lifting capacity. 

The new crane will enable the vessel to perform required tasks of installing offshore wind turbines of the future, with turbines over 270 metres high and blades 120 metres long. The vessel has been specifically designed to transport, hoist and install offshore wind turbines, transition pieces and foundations.

Voltaire gets the largest LEC to date

With a crane house weighing 1800 tonnes, a boom length of 140 metres and weighing 800 tonnes, this is the largest Leg Encircling Crane ever built. The crane will use a Universal Quick Connector (UQC) to pick loads quickly and completely without manual handling, i.e. fully automated.

The legs enabling the Voltaire to lift itself above the water surface, are also being mounted on board. The first part of the legs were installed just before the launching at the end of January. The height is now gradually being increased until they reach their full 131.5 metres.

Eyes on the energy transition

With these unprecedented dimensions and possibilities, the Voltaire is an important asset for the future of the renewable energy sector. That future revolves more and more around a global energy transition and a minimal impact on the climate. That is why Jan De Nul is equipping its new generation vessels with a double exhaust gas filter system that removes up to 99 percent of nanoparticles from emissions.