en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Femern Link Contractors (FLC) construction consortium in Denmark has completed the initial testing phase of the IVY, a special immersion barge for the Fehmarn Belt immersed tunnel, with the first tunnel element secured between the two barges. Currently, the immersion barge is located at the large working port on the Danish island of Lolland. The tests confirmed that all functions of IVY 1 and IVY 2 operate normally both when operating separately and as a combined vessel.

The IVY immersion barge will be deployed in two configurations: for the 217-meter standard elements, each end is supported by one barge during transport and submersion; for shorter special elements, IVY 1 and IVY 2 will be directly connected together to support the element at its center. During the final testing phase, additional weight equivalent to the ballast concrete will be added to the fixed element, and IVY will perform lifting and lowering tests on the element within the working port.

Lasse Vester, Deputy Contract Director at Sund & Bælt, stated that IVY 1 and 2 are unique vessels built specifically for the Fehmarn Belt tunnel elements, and their completion and testing took longer than expected. FLC is now nearing the finish line, enabling the vessel to be approved for use in the submersion of all 89 tunnel elements. The first element is expected to be submerged at Rødbyhavn and connected to the tunnel entrance later this year in the spring.

Due to challenges in completing the specialized vessel IVY, construction of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel is currently delayed by approximately two years. Danish state-owned company Sund & Bælt (parent company of the project company Femern A/S) canceled two ongoing tenders in February 2026. The first involves the tunnel's track and overhead contact line (TTC) contract, and the second involves a new toll facility contract for the Fehmarn Belt tunnel at Rødbyhavn and the Great Belt connection at Halskov. Sund & Bælt has decided to develop a new overall project timeline after the submersion of the first tunnel element, and these two contracts are expected to be retendered at a later stage.

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