Jan De Nul Group and Vroon Group have signed agreements to transfer part of the offshore business of MPI to Jan De Nul, including the ownership of the jack-up vessel MPI Discovery together with its crew, as well as a number of MPI’s employees.
“To further support our expansion in Europe but also worldwide, we continue investing in our offshore wind resources. The MPI Discovery will considerably strengthen our position on the market,” said Philippe Hutse , Offshore Director at Jan De Nul Group.
The company recently announced the award of the Northwester 2 offshore wind farm in Belgium with offshore works scheduled to start in June 2019.
Earlier this year, Jan De Nul Group entered the Asian offshore wind farm market by signing contracts for two offshore wind farm projects in Taiwan: the Formosa 1 Phase 2 offshore wind farm and the Changhua offshore wind project.
The jack-up vessel MPI Discovery was built in 2011 and was specifically designed to transport, lift and install offshore wind turbines and foundations. The vessel features a 1,000-tonne main crane, plus a 50-tonne auxiliary crane, has a maximum operating depth of 40 metres, a deadweight of 6,000 tonnes, and accommodation for 112 persons.
The vessel is 140 metres long and is equipped with six legs to lift itself above the sea level for stable working without the impact of waves.