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Fehmarnbelt Tunnel Clears Key Maritime Approval to Begin Element Immersion

The approval clears the way to start sinking the first tunnel element this spring.

Overview

  • Sund & Bælt said a Danish maritime approval for the specialist immersion ship now allows the first tunnel element to be lowered near Lolland this spring.
  • Lasse Vester of Sund & Bælt called the ship’s task complex and said testing is complete, so crews can start the lowering work.
  • Femern Link Contractors will now prepare for immersion and will publish a new timetable after the first elements are placed.
  • Sund & Bælt still expects the opening to slip to 2031 or later after earlier permitting delays.
  • The 18-kilometre link will carry road and rail in separate tubes, enabling car speeds up to 110 km/h and passenger trains up to 200 km/h, which Deutsche Bahn says could cut HamburgCopenhagen trips to about 2.5 hours from roughly five.