Jan De Nul has unveiled its most advanced simulator technology yet, boosting marine construction, wind farm construction and dredging capabilities across its global operations.
The company is commissioning two new high-tech simulators at its Aalst office, including a cutting-edge crane simulator built specifically for the installation of offshore wind farms.
“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,” said Stefan Bruggeman, responsible for the simulators at Jan De Nul.
“We also train in all possible conditions: changing weather, high waves, seabed subsidence, you name it.”
Highly complex
With turbine tip heights now exceeding 300 metres, offshore installation has become a highly complex task and the new system will allow teams to rehearse critical steps safely and accurately.
The simulator replicates Jan De Nul’s newest vessels, Les Alizés and Voltaire, both designed to install the latest generation of heavy wind turbine foundations weighing up to two thousand tonnes.
Jan De Nul said that the investment in simulation is not solely about technical precision but also about strengthening communication, teamwork and operational safety.
Up to four operational roles can train simultaneously, mirroring real-world coordination demands in offshore marine construction projects and allowing early identification of potential communication bottlenecks.
Alongside the crane simulator, Jan De Nul is launching a state-of-the-art dredging simulator based on the powerful cutter suction dredger Willem van Rubroeck. This system enables full-project simulations, helping crews build hands-on expertise before starting offshore works.
With three new energy-transfer vessels under construction, Jan De Nul is preparing for the future recruiting engineers, technicians and operators to support its expanding offshore and simulator training programmes.
