Jan De Nul has confirmed that its newest trenching support vessel will be named Isambard K. Brunel after a famed British engineer from the 19th century.
“In March, we announced the construction of a new trenching support vessel, and today we also gave her a name. We are naming the vessel after the English engineer Isambard K. Brunel. Brunel is known for his innovative solutions to technical challenges for which humanity had long found no answers. That is exactly where we connect with him,” the company said.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a British engineer of the 19th century and one of the key figures of the Industrial Revolution. He is considered one of the most influential engineers of all time.
Brunel designed and delivered major infrastructure projects that profoundly transformed transport and industry in Great Britain. He is best known for the Great Western Railway, which connected London with the west of England. He also designed iconic bridges, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
Brunel also built innovative steamships, such as the SS Great Britain. His work was known for bold designs and technical innovation. Many of his projects were exceptionally ambitious for their time and pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible.
He is remembered for his creativity, engineering prowess, and ability to solve complex problems.
Jan Van De Velde, Director Newbuilding and Engineering, said:
“Brunel is considered one of the boldest and most creative engineers of the 19th century. Moreover, one of the ships he designed, the SS Great Eastern, was used to install a telegraph cable between France and America, with both Fleeming Jenkin and William Thomson on board: the two engineers after whom we named our two identical XL cable-laying vessels, which are now in their final construction phase.”
