Jan De Nul is expanding its subsea cable burial capabilities by adding two trenching support vessels: a newbuild from CMHI/Ulstein and the conversion of its Henry Darcy with an Os.
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Counterparts (4)
supplier
Osbit
company · 1 deals
Osbit is a UK-based engineering company specializing in the design, build, and delivery of bespoke offshore technology solutions for the global offshore energy industry, including offshore wind, oil & gas, and subsea sectors. Part of Venterra Group, it provides custom-engineered equipment and services.
Ulstein
company · 1 deals
Ulstein Group is a Norwegian shipbuilding company specializing in the design, construction, and outfitting of advanced vessels, including offshore wind service vessels, cruise ships, and specialized vessels for the subsea and oil & gas industries. Headquartered in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the family-owned company, founded in 1917, employs around 700 people and is known for its innovative vessel designs like the X-BOW®.
CMHI shipyard
company · 1 deals
China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) is a large-scale heavy industry enterprise and shipyard directly under China Merchants Group, specializing in the design, construction, and repair of various vessels and offshore engineering equipment, including offshore wind installation vessels and cruise ships, serving global maritime and offshore energy sectors from its multiple shipyards in China.
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Deal Analysis
Jan De Nul is significantly expanding its subsea cable capabilities, adding two trenching support vessels to its fleet. This latest move brings their total pipeline to four new vessels under construction and one conversion, all dedicated to subsea cable installation and protection. The expansion involves a new build at CMHI in China, designed by Ulstein, alongside the conversion of their vessel Henry Darcy, which will integrate a subsea robot from Osbit. This dual strategy of new construction and existing fleet upgrades underscores a focused push into the critical infrastructure for offshore energy and telecom.
- Jan De Nul's subsea cable fleet now includes four vessels under construction and one under conversion.
- One new trenching support vessel will be built at CMHI shipyard in China, designed by Ulstein.
- Existing vessel Henry Darcy to be converted, integrating a subsea robot from Osbit.
- Deal announced March 10, 2026.
Source Intelligence
KEY DETAILS
One new trenching support vessel will be equipped with a trencher subsea robot capable of burying cables up to five metres deep. This new vessel will also be equipped with the company’s Ultra-Low Emission vessel technology designed to filter up to 99% of nanoparticles from exhaust gases and reduce polluting substances, and its engines will be able to run on biofuel and are prepared for future operation on methanol. The vessel Henry Darcy will be converted into a trenching support vessel equipped with a subsea robot specialised in burying cables in shallow waters. Jan De Nul now has four vessels under construction for the installation and protection of subsea cables and one vessel under conversion.
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Location
The vessel will be built at the CMHI shipyard in China
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Announcement
10 March 2026 11:45
PARTIES MENTIONED IN SOURCE
J
Jan De Nul
buyer
"Jan De Nul is expanding its offshore energy fleet with two vessels designed to bury submarine cables in the seabed."
C
CMHI shipyard
seller
"Jan De Nul added the vessel will be built at the CMHI shipyard in China to an Ulstein design."
U
Ulstein
designer
"The vessel will be built at the CMHI shipyard in China to an Ulstein design."
O
Osbit
supplier
"The robot for the vessel has been ordered from partner Osbit."
medium quality
Enriched Mar 10, 2026
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