Steerprop's fit-for-purpose propulsion system will help to maintain environmental performance and provide the manoeuvrability needed for operations in and around deeper offshore power projects.

Set to be delivered in 2026, the Fleeming Jenkin will be the world's largest Cable-Laying Vessel (CLV) to date. By optimizing the propulsion system to be in line with the ship's operating profile, maritime environmental regulations, and customer requirements, Steerprop has done its part to ensure that the new CLV will also be the world's cleanest.

The Fleeming Jenkin is being built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Haimen (CMHI) and will be owned by Jan De Nul Group. The main propulsion for the Fleeming Jenkin will come from four azimuth thrusters. Manoeuvrability will be enhanced by three tunnel thrusters and two retractable. An additional full main thruster and extensive spares package will also be supplied as part of the contract. In addition to the Fleeming Jenkin, Jan De Nul is also building a second identical vessel with three carousels and a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tons.

Fleming Jenkin, world's largest cable-laying vessel

The move reflects a confidence in the technology and design competence of Steerprop, according to Juho Rekola, Director, Sales and Project Management, "This is a milestone project for us, and not just because of the technology; we showed that we were able to adapt to various end-customer requirements and be flexible in terms of CMHI's needs in order to ensure that the building and commissioning phases occur seamlessly. It demonstrates our ability to address the requirements of even the most demanding of applications from within our extended product portfolio."

"This is our first time working with Steerprop. We hope that this cooperation will be smooth and demonstrate its expertise, and we are looking forward to doing more together in the future," says Tao Chen, CMHI (Jiangsu) Deputy GM.

"Fleeming Jenkin bundles all the cable installation expertise we've gained over the past decade. This vessel and the technologies on board are designed by our in-house specialists. We are happy to add to that the expertise of Steerprop in delivering a comprehensive propulsion system for our cable-laying vessel under construction, resulting in high-maneuverable and performant vessels for challenging offshore conditions. We look forward to working together on this project," says Jan Van de Velde, Director of Newbuilds at Jan De Nul

Juho Rekola adds that the Fleeming Jenkin demonstrates how Steerprop is committed to fully understanding customers' needs, requirements and expectations. "Ship-owners shouldn't have to compromize because they've been forced to choose a solution straight from a manufacturer's catalogue. Instead, they should set challenges and expect their suppliers to rise to them. The Fleeming Jenkin is a fine example of how this philosophy can help to shape reality."