DNV completed the independent verification of the lifting system used to install the elements of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, an 18-kilometer infrastructure that will link Denmark and Germany via rail and road connections under the sea.
Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: a key infrastructure for Europe
The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will become the world’s longest immersed tunnel once its construction is completed. The project is designed to improve connectivity between Scandinavia and continental Europe through a direct connection for rail and road transport.
In May 2026, the immersion of the first tunnel element, a 217-meter-long prefabricated section, was successfully carried out. This type of infrastructure is built using large concrete modules manufactured on land, which are then floated to the installation area and placed in a prepared trench on the seabed.
The lifting system, an essential part of the installation
The placement of each segment requires a specialized lifting device capable of handling large structures with a high level of precision in demanding maritime conditions.
To ensure the safe performance of the equipment, DNV carried out verification activities during the design, manufacturing, and commissioning phases of the system installed on the immersion pontoons IVY 1 and IVY 2.
The scope of work included the assessment of technical compliance, the review of safety criteria, and the final certification of the complete system before its use in installation operations.
Certification to reinforce operational safety
According to Marte Riiber de Picciotto, Director of the Energy Systems Service Area at DNV, the project represents a unique application of large-scale lifting technology within a dynamic maritime environment that demands high levels of precision.
Independent certification confirms that the system meets the established requirements to operate safely during the complex placement maneuvers of the tunnel elements.
Furthermore, external validation provides additional confidence in the reliability of the equipment used in one of the most ambitious subsea infrastructure projects currently being developed in Europe.
Technical collaboration between DNV and Femern Link Contractors
DNV’s involvement included on-site inspections, technical reviews, and certification activities executed in parallel with the construction progress.
The company highlighted that coordination with Femern Link Contractors (FLC) was decisive in managing the technical complexity associated with the project.
FLC brings together construction and engineering firms from several European countries specializing in major maritime and transport infrastructure, responsible for executing a project that will transform logistical connections between Denmark and Germany over the coming decades.
Source and photo: DNV
