We would like to introduce ‘Ivy’, the newest member of the marine fleet operated by the FLC joint venture, which includes DEME. Ivy was specifically built for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project, which is a major infrastructure project that will connect Denmark and Germany. Once completed, the tunnel will shorten travel time between Copenhagen and Hamburg to approximately 1.5 hours. This compares to the current ferry system, which can involve about 4 - 5 hours of travel time.
The tunnel will consist of a submerged road and rail tunnel, which will be designed to accommodate both vehicles and trains. It will be approximately 18 kilometres long. The primary goal of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is to enhance transportation links between Scandinavia and mainland Europe, reducing travel times and increasing capacity for both passenger and freight traffic. Construction began in 2020 and it is anticipated to be completed by 2029. Given its underwater location, the project involves complex engineering and environmental considerations.
‘Ivy’ has been specifically designed for the transport and immersion of the project’s 89 massive tunnel elements. ‘Ivy’ consists of two custom-built immersion pontoons and has a length of 100 metres and a width of 45 metres. She has a lifting capacity of 8,000 tonnes and a crew capacity of 22 members. In total, four custom-built pontoons will play a crucial role in the construction of the tunnel. Earlier this year, the multipurpose pontoon ‘Maya’ joined the marine fleet to install the gravel bed in the tunnel trench.
‘Ivy’ will be fine-tuned during the final commissioning and offshore trials, to ensure it is fully prepared for the immersion phase. This is a particularly exciting milestone for the DEME colleagues involved in the project as DEME is taking on a key role in the marine operations within the broader team working on the tunnel.