The Ministry of Transport and Sund & Bælt worked closely together in handling the conflict with the contractor behind the Femern construction as the case unfolded in public.
This is shown by documents obtained by FemernBusiness through a freedom of information request, providing insight into what took place behind the scenes during the notable exchange of letters between department head Jacob Heinsen and Femern Link Contractors’ top executive Sébastien Bliaut.
Internal emails reveal how draft responses were shared, discussed and adjusted between the ministry and the client before being sent.
The material thus points to a closely coordinated state approach to the conflict, in which the Ministry of Transport’s department head Jacob Heinsen questioned whether the FLC consortium was capable of completing the fixed link between Denmark and Germany.
Problems with cooperation
The Femern project is already affected by significant delays, with problems related to the immersion vessel Ivy postponing the lowering of the tunnel elements.
At the same time, a fundamental conflict has emerged between the client and the contractor over the cause of the delays. While the state and Sund & Bælt point to the vessel as the main risk to the project, the contractor maintains that challenges in the tunnel trench are the primary reason.
The disagreement is also tied to a major financial dispute, with the contractor having filed claims totalling DKK 14.5 billion against the client.
Is it wise to respond?
In an email sent on 1 December 2025 at 08:15, the Ministry of Transport asks Sund & Bælt to assess whether there should be any response to an inquiry from Sébastien Bliaut, chairman of FLC, who had contacted Heinsen via LinkedIn.
“Jacob Heinsen would like to respond to the inquiry, but only if you think it is wise.”
The following day, on 2 December 2025 at 15:52, Sund & Bælt approves a reply with a specific addition:
“We are okay with the response if it is added at the end that further dialogue should take place with Femern.”
The wording is subsequently adjusted before the response is sent.
On 9 December 2025 at 10:24, Sébastien Bliaut sends a reply to the Ministry of Transport, rejecting the ministry’s assessment and stating that the matter “is not well-informed to you”. He also directs sharp criticism at both the client and the authorities’ handling of the project, describing it as a management crisis.
A few hours later, at 14:58, the ministry forwards the response to Sund & Bælt.
Withdraws criticism
The documents also shed light on how the Ministry of Transport’s permanent secretary Jacob Heinsen intended to respond to the criticism from FLC chairman Sébastien Bliaut.
In a draft, he maintains that the project is delayed by about 20 months, that the immersion vessel is still not approved, and that the lifting of tunnel elements has yet to be carried out. He also reiterates that the delays raise concerns about whether the consortium is capable of completing the project.
He further notes that the crucial test will be whether progress with the vessel can be demonstrated in practice by placing the first elements in the tunnel trench.
On 10 December, the conflict is instead brought to a close from the contractor’s side. The top management of the companies behind the consortium states that Bliaut’s letter was written by a single employee and has now been formally withdrawn.
The consortium thus distances itself from the criticism shortly after the ministry has prepared its response.
The conflict subsequently led law professor Frederik Waage from the University of Southern Denmark to question whether the construction project was under control, given the high level of conflict.
