Jan De Nul has signed an agreement for the purchase of offshore construction and cable-lay vessel Connector from Ocean Yield.
Connector will be transferred by the end of the fourth quarter of 2020.
Jan De Nul said Connector will make a “perfect combination” with its cable-lay vessel Isaac Newton.
Both vessels are interchangeable with similar large carrying capacities thanks to similar dual turntable systems, while at the same time they each have their own specific characteristics that make them complementary.
The purchase of Connector continues to expand Jan De Nul’s offshore wind fleet, following the order in 2019 of the new-build offshore jack-up installation vessel Voltaire and floating crane installation vessel Les Alizes.
Jan De Nul offshore division director Philippe Hutse said: “The Connector has a very good reputation in the sector and is known as one of the world’s top tier subsea installation and construction vessels.”
Connector is capable of operating in depths of up to 3000 metres.
Hutse added: “Through the market consolidation involving this new investment, we now own and operate the largest fleet of dedicated cable-lay vessels.
“The Connector will further strengthen the Jan De Nul fleet for the future of offshore energy production.”
The Connector was operating on a long-term bareboat charter until February 2017, Ocean Yield said.
In anticipation of a market recovery, the company then traded the vessel in the short-term market.
Ocean Yield investments senior vice president Andreas Reklev said: “Through this position we have realised that in fact an industrial setup is required to operate the vessel efficiently in the cable-lay market whereby total solutions can be offered including dedicated engineering and operations teams.
“As such, we believe Jan De Nul will be well placed to efficiently operate the vessel which we see leaving in an excellent condition after having just completed its 10 year dry docking and class renewal surveys.”
Jan De Nul’s offshore fleet now comprises three offshore jack-up installation vessels, three floating crane installation vessels, three cable-lay vessels, five rock installation vessels and two multipurpose vessels.