Belgian manufacturer ABC Engines has raised its game in the methanol-capable four-stroke market by winning the contract to power one of the largest cableships ever ordered.

The deal secured from construction and dredging group Jan De Nul encompasses the full shipset of five engines that will drive the 30,600kW primary genset installation in the company’s 215m newbuild cable-layer. The nascent Fleeming Jenkin, booked from China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Haimen and due to be delivered in 2026, will provide an unmatched cable-carrying capacity of 28,000t for assignments in the interconnector and offshore renewable energy sectors.

The entire medium-speed engine outfit will enable firing on methanol (ideally ‘green’ methanol), bio diesel or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), as well as diesel, and will incorporate SCR and diesel particulate filter (DPF) technologies.