General – Japan
On December 6, the scale model of the DP2 turbine installation vessel Sea Challenger was unveiled in Tokyo, Japan, featuring an upgraded 1,600-tonne crane.
Mr. Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO, DEME Group – HRH Princess Astrid of the Kingdom of Belgium – Mr. Ishii, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan – Mr. Shimizu, President, Penta-Ocean Construction.
Back row, from left to right
Ms. De Bilderling, Ambassador of Belgium to Japan – Mr. Jambon, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders – Ms. Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions Mr. Shimokawa, Ambassador of Japan – Mr. Horita, Director General, Ports and Harbours Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan – Mr. Hayashida, Chief Executive, Specialist Center of Port and Airport Engineering.
The unveiling was performed by her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium and Japanese State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hiroo Ishii.
DEME Offshore and Penta-Ocean Construction established their joint venture company Japan Offshore Marine (JOM) in 2021 to enable both companies to play a leading role in the long-term development of Japan’s offshore wind market and the energy transition. The company will upgrade and take possession of the Sea Challenger and reflag the vessel to the Japanese flag.
DEME’s Sea Challenger has gained a stellar reputation in the turbine installation market and is currently undergoing an extensive upgrade, preparing it for offshore wind farm projects in Japan. A crucial step to make the vessel future-proof is increasing the crane’s lifting capacity from 900 tonnes to 1,600 tonnes. Additionally, Sea Challenger will have a wider beam and longer legs, enabling it to handle the next generation of mega wind turbines. The vessel will also be reflagged to the Japanese flag.
