International consortia preparing bids for world’s longest immersed tunnel

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Nine consortia are currently submitting proposals in the hope of winning a contract to build the world’s longest immersed tunnel between Denmark and Germany.

Femern A/S said international companies were ‘in the process of submitting tenders’ for the main construction contract for the Fehmarnbelt fixed link – a planned 18 kilometre-long tunnel which will connect the German island of Fehmarn with the Danish island of Lolland and significantly cut journey times between Scandinavia and central Europe.

Femern A/S also announced that it was now preparing the tender for the tunnel’s electrical and mechanical systems contract.

Steen Lykke, technical director at Femern A/S, said: “As we’re building the world’s largest immersed tunnel, the design and installation of the advanced electrical and mechanical equipment will, of course, be a major undertaking and a challenge. There will be many innovative solutions in the tunnel project, but much known technology in the electrical and mechanical installations.

Courtesy of Femern A/S.
Courtesy of Femern A/S.

“The 18 km immersed tunnel will consist of 79 standard elements and 10 special elements and each of the two types of elements must be equipped with virtually identical systems. This immediately gives a clearer impression of the content and scope of the project, and it means that there are many contractors, including some smaller ones, who will be able to participate in the work.”

Systems covered in the contract include ventilation, emergency doors, fire prevention systems, drainage, cables and pipework, elevators, transformers, lighting, monitoring and control systems and communication systems.

The fixed link, which is due to open in 2021, will reduce the current journey time by ferry from 45 minutes to seven minutes by rail. It will also in turn cut the journey time between Hamburg and Copenhagen from four-and-a-half hours to just three.

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