Fourth tunnel element in place: Now comes the harder task

The fourth tunnel element has been lowered into place south of Lolland. This means that almost 900 metres of the 18-kilometre tunnel to Germany have now been assembled on the seabed.

The first element was put in place in May, the second in June and the third in August. Next time, the special-purpose vessel IVY will have to handle a different type of element: The first of the tunnel’s ten special elements has a basement for technical installations and must be placed deeper than the elements installed so far.

- Each operation is still technically demanding, but we feel well prepared for the next major task, which is the immersion of the first special element with a basement, says Lasse Vester, Deputy Contract Director at Sund & Bælt.

The special element is expected to be immersed in the autumn. It will then be followed by the fifth standard element. Only once all six elements are in place will Sund & Bælt draw up a new overall timetable for the delayed project.