Game changing installation vessel ‘Orion’ enters final construction phase with installation of 5,000-tonne crane

DEME has reached yet another major milestone in the construction of its next generation and game changing DP3 offshore installation vessel ‘Orion’. The vessel arrived at the Liebherr construction yard in the port of Rostock, Germany for the installation of the huge 5,000-tonne crane. This milestone marks the final phase in the construction process.

Construction of ‘Orion’ started in March 2018 and in April Liebherr immediately started work on the giant new crane. The high-tech crane will be assembled on the 800-tonne pedestal on board,  which will also include a rigging store, deck workplace and several offices. With a lifting capacity of 5,000 tonnes at more than 30 metres outreach the crane could lift nine fully loaded A380 airplanes in one go. Loads can be lifted to an unrivalled height of 180 m.

With this revolutionary DP3 offshore installation vessel, which will be one of the largest vessels in the world working in the sector, DEME will bring a game changing installation concept to the offshore energy market. ‘Orion’ will feature an unrivalled combination of exceptionally high transport and load capacity, impressive lifting heights and green technology. The vessel will be deployed for the construction of the largest offshore wind farms, to service the oil and gas industry and for the decommissioning of offshore installations. ‘Orion’ can take the heaviest monopiles, jackets, wind turbine components and structures in a single shipment, and can transport and install the next generation of multi-megawatt wind turbines.

This exceptional vessel will enable the industry to take a significant step forward in further reducing the costs of installing offshore wind foundations for example, as she combines strength with high levels of precision, being able to install the largest monopiles at sea while in DP3 mode. 

Environmental considerations are also an important element of the vessel design. ‘Orion’ has dual fuel engines and can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). It will have a Green Passport and Clean Design notation. Another environmental innovation is a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gases and cooling water to electrical energy.‘Orion’ is expected to join the fleet in 2020 and will head straight to the Moray East offshore wind farm project in the UK for the installation of 103 jackets.

DEME is a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and experience and has fostered a pioneering approach throughout its history, being a front runner in innovation and new technologies.

DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, reduction of CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of natural resources. Although DEME’s activities originated with the core dredging business, the portfolio diversified substantially over the decades, including dredging and land reclamation, solutions for the offshore energy market, infra marine solutions and environmental solutions.

While the company’s roots are in Belgium, DEME has built a strong presence in all of the world’s seas and continents, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals across the globe. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, backed by a broad range of auxiliary equipment, the company can provide solutions for even the most complex projects.

DEME achieved a turnover of 2.65 billion euros in 2018.