Femern Link Contractors joint venture receives Notice to Proceed

The Danish Government has decided to issue the Notice to Proceed to the Femern Link Contractors joint venture for the execution of the design and build contracts of the world’s longest immersed road and rail tunnel, the Fehmarnbelt link between Denmark and Germany. The construction will start on 1 January 2021.

In 2016, the joint venturewon three contracts. Two contracts cover the construction of the immersed tunnel and the factory that will manufacture the precast tunnel elements and a third contract deals with the building of the portal structures, toll buildings, bridges and ramps. The three contracts have a combined value of €3.4 billion, of which DEME’s share is EUR 700 million.

The Femern Link Contractors joint venture comprises VINCI Construction Grands Projets S.A.S. (lead company for the first two contracts), Per Aarsleff Holding A/S (lead company for the third contract), Solétanche-Bachy International S.A.S., CFE NV,  Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, Max Bögl Stiftung & Co KG, BAM Infra BV, BAM International BV and Dredging International NV.

The joint venture has appointed COWI A/S as a consultant for all three contracts.

For DEME’s subsidiary DIMCO, the project is another opportunity to deploy their expertise in immersed tunnels and large-scale infra marine projects.

The 18 km immersed tunnel connecting Denmark’s Lolland Falster region with Germany’s Schleswig Holstein region will be the world’s longest immersed road and rail tunnel. It will shorten the journey between the German and Danish coasts to just 10 minutes by car and 7 minutes by train compared to the current travel time of one hour by ferry or a 160 km detour via the Danish region of Jutland by car.

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel project is one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects to date. It will foster trade and tourism in Northern Europe.

DEME is a global leader in the specialised fields of dredging, solutions for the offshore energy industry and infra marine and environmental works. The company has over 140 years of knowledge and experience. As a leader in innovation and new technologies DEME has always followed a pioneering approach.

DEME’s vision is aimed at working on a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: the rising sea level, a growing population, reduction in CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of mineral recources.

DEME has its roots in Belgium, but has a strong presence on all of the world’s the seas and continents, operating in over 90 countries. The company can count on 5,200 highly skilled professionals all over the world. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, supported by a wide variety of auxiliary equipment, the company can offer solutions for even the most complex projects.

DEME achieved a turnover of 2.62 billion euros in 2019.