Jan De Nul commissions new crane simulator for offshore wind farm installation

Photo: Jan De Nul

This month Jan De Nul will commission two high-tech simulators at its Aalst, Belgium office, one a crane simulator for offshore wind farm installation, the other a simulator for cutter suction dredge operations.

“The eye-catcher is the crane simulator designed for the installation of wind farms at sea,” says the company, which ordered the simulator in 2022.

With wind turbines reaching tip heights of 300 meters and beyond, installation has become a highly complex operation. The new simulator will help prepare all project partners for these critical activities.

DIGITAL TWIN

The simulator is a digital twin of Jan De Nul’s newest vessels, Les Alizés and Voltaire, which install the latest generation of wind turbines and their foundations at sea. These foundations are the size of a soccer field and can weigh up to two thousand tonnes, the equivalent of five Boeing 747s combined. Installing such giants at sea requires extensive experience, and the new simulator allows teams to practice every step of the process in a safe, realistic environment.

“The crane simulator features a seven-meter-wide dome that provides a full 360-degree view, immersing operators as if they were truly at sea,” says Stefan Bruggeman, who is responsible for the simulators at Jan De Nul. “We also train in all possible conditions: changing weather, high waves, seabed subsidence, you name it.”

With these new simulators, says Jan De Nul, the company is investing not only in technical training, but also in safety, collaboration and thorough project preparation. Employees, clients and partners will all train in the simulators. The goal is to minimize risks in advance and further increase the efficiency of offshore operations.
“Alongside technical skills, we focus heavily on teamwork and communication,” says Bruggeman. “In the crane simulator, up to four roles that work closely with the crane operator can train simultaneously. Just like on board, they operate from separate rooms, allowing potential bottlenecks in communication or coordination to surface early. This not only saves time during project execution, but also boosts efficiency and safety on our vessels and worksites.

“Simulator training not only saves time during project execution, it also improves efficiency and safety on board.”

DREDGING SIMULATOR

Alongside the crane simulator, Jan De Nul is also introducing a new state-of-the-art simulator for its cutter suction dredges, vessels that cut and remove hard seabed material. This simulator is based on the Willem van Rubroeck, the most powerful cutter suction dredge in the Jan De Nul fleet. Teams can simulate an entire project with this type of vessel, gaining valuable experience before heading offshore.