Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Nexus

In a significant development for renewable energy, Dutch offshore service provider Van Oord has been awarded a contract by Orsted to handle cable installation works for the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind project cluster in Taiwan. Under the terms of this contract, Van Oord will oversee the transportation, installation, and burial of 111 inter-array cables alongside three export cables. To efficiently execute this project, the company will utilize its specialized cable-laying vessel, the Nexus, as well as the trencher Dig-It. Notably, this marks Van Oord's inaugural cable project in Taiwan, highlighting its expanding footprint in the global offshore wind sector.

Van Oord proudly introduces the Nexus, its inaugural cable-laying vessel, designed specifically for the construction of offshore wind parks. The unveiling took place during a two-day celebration on the Wilhelminakade in Rotterdam. On March 7, 2023, the vessel was officially christened by Ms. J. Damen-Carli, who is married to Mr. K. Damen, a member of the supervisory board at Van Oord and the chairman of Damen Shipyards Group. The event gathered numerous employees and guests of Van Oord to witness this significant milestone. Constructed at Damen Shipyards Group's facility in Galati, Romania, the Nexus measures an impressive 123 meters in length and boasts a beam of over 27 meters. This state-of-the-art vessel is equipped with a robust cable carousel with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes, specifically designed for the efficient installation of long export cables, marking a pivotal advancement in the offshore wind energy sector.

On December 22, Damen successfully delivered the state-of-the-art DOC 8500 cable laying vessel named Nexus to the renowned international offshore contractor Van Oord. Spanning 126 metres, Nexus is specifically designed for the efficient installation of electricity cables crucial for offshore wind farms. The vessel's debut mission is set for the Gemini offshore wind farm project, located 55 kilometres north of Schiermonnikoog, one of the picturesque Dutch Wadden Islands. Van Oord announced this exciting deployment in a recent press release, highlighting their ongoing commitment to renewable energy initiatives. Despite facing various construction challenges, Damen remarkably completed the project several days ahead of schedule, achieving the entire design, engineering, and building process in just 15 months.