Jan De Nul is commissioning two high-tech simulators at its Aalst office. The eye-catcher is the crane simulator designed for the installation of wind farms at sea. With wind turbines reaching tip heights of 300 metres and beyond, installation has become a highly complex operation. The new simulator will help prepare all project partners for these critical activities.
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 football 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 this simulator allows teams to practice every step of the process in a safe, realistic environment.
Stefan Bruggeman, responsible for the simulators at Jan De Nul: “The crane simulator features a seven-metre-wide dome that provides a full 360-degree view, immersing operators as if they were truly at sea. We also train in all possible conditions: changing weather, high waves, seabed subsidence, you name it.”
With these new simulators, Jan De Nul 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 minimise risks in advance and further increase the efficiency of offshore operations.
Stefan Bruggeman: “Alongside technical skills, we focus heavily on teamwork and communication. 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.”
Alongside the crane simulator, Jan De Nul is also introducing a new state-of-the-art simulator for its cutter suction dredgers, vessels that cut and remove hard seabed material. This simulator is based on the Willem van Rubroeck, the most powerful cutter suction dredger in the company’s fleet. Teams can simulate an entire project with this type of vessel, gaining valuable experience before heading offshore.
Jan De Nul is currently building three new vessels that will bring energy from wind farms at sea to shore and protect subsea cable connections. To support these developments, the company is looking for new colleagues, including specialised engineers, technicians and operators. Interested candidates can apply via careers.jandenul.com.
