International tender

Femern A/S, therefore, is dividing the task into four major contracts each of which will be put out to international tender. This will ensure optimum competition among the contractor consortia bidding for contracts.

With regard to the Fehmarn project the competitive element will not only ensure the best price but will also encourage potential bidders to think creatively and possibly come up with new and better methods.

Femern A/S plans to invite contractor consortia to participate in a pre-qualification round in the autumn of 2012. In 2013, therefore, it will be clear which consortia will be able to bid for the construction works.

Essentially, the major tasks facing the future contractors will consist of dredging the tunnel trench in the seabed, the construction of the tunnel element factory, production and immersion of the tunnel elements, the construction of portals, approach facilities for the landworks, the construction of the railway and technical installations.

Contracts are expected to be signed in 2015 after which construction work can commence. Total construction costs for the coast-to-coast section between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden are estimated at EUR 5.5 billion (2008 prices).

The contract for the immersed tunnel is divided into two parts of equal size to give as many companies as possible the opportunity to bid for the project and thus to increase competition on price and methods.

The four contracts embrace:

Dredging of the seabed and land reclamation.
The contractor is to dredge a trench, approx. 18 km long, 80 m wide and 10 m deep, in the Fehmarnbelt, where the tunnel will be placed. The resulting approx. 15 million m3 seabed from the dredging works will be reused for land reclamation, primarily along the coast of Lolland and, to a lesser extent, along the coast of Fehmarn. The contract also includes other major dredging works, e.g. the harbour basin for the tunnel element production site in Rødbyhavn.

Construction of the northern section of the tunnel.
The contractor is to carry out half of the actual tunnel construction and consequently build half of the tunnel element construction site in Rødbyhavn. Furthermore, the contractor is to produce, transport and immerse half of the tunnel elements, i.e. approx. 40 standard elements and approx. 5 special elements, corresponding to around 9 km of tunnel.

Construction of the southern section of the tunnel.
The contract consists of the same elements as the northern tunnel contract.

Construction of portal structures, ramps and associated land facilities.
The contractor is to build the tunnel’s two portals as well as cut-and-cover tunnels on land in Germany and Denmark, respectively. Furthermore, the contract includes entry and exit ramps and connection to the existing transport installations on land, small buildings and bridges as well as all aspects of completion, including asphalting of all roads and wall cladding throughout the entire tunnel.

In addition to these four contracts, other projects concerning railway construction and technical installations in general will be put out for tender by Femern A/S at a later date.