Cable Layers News

NYK has obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the design concept of a cable-laying vessel for the construction of a long-distance subsea DC transmission network in Japan.Since suitable locations for wind-power generation, such as Hokkaido, are far from areas of major electricity demand, developing a power transmission network is crucial to increasing the amount of renewable electricity generated in Japan in the future.As part of a four-company consortium with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric and Mitsui O.S.K.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to propose new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns in the wake of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables being severed in the Baltic Sea this week, which is suspected to be sabotage.The FCC eyes new rules to address the national security concerns over the global network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle more than 98% of international internet traffic."With the expansion of data centers…

Green Yard Kleven has completed the conversion of an 80-meter walk-to-work vessel into a cable lay and repair services vessel for NTT, one of the largest telecommunications companies in Asia.The ship was originally built as an MT6007 seismic vessel but was later converted into a walk-to-work vessel for offshore wind.The Vega II is now under contract for cable work in Asian waters. It will replace the 40+ year old ship Vega and join the fleet of cable ships belonging to NTT that…

Van Oord’s new cable laying vessel (CLV) Calypso is gearing up for its debut at RWE’s 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK.The inter-array cables have been loaded onto Calypso CLV at the Port of Blyth in the UK, ahead of its first job at RWE’s biggest offshore wind, according to Van Oord, which secured the contract for the installation of monopile foundations and cables back in 2021.Built by Vard, the vessel is 130 meters long and has a beam of 28 meters.The DP2 Calypso is equipped with a below-deck cable carousel and a second carousel on deck…

Jan de Nul has named its new XL cable laying vessel (CLV), an identical copy of the previously ordered Fleeming Jenkin, after an Irish scientist William Thomson.The William Thomson will have three carousels and cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tonnes.The 215-meter-long sister vessels – Fleeming Jenkin and William Thomson - will be the largest cable-laying vessels in the world.“The vessels will certainly be innovative for the offshore cable industry, as so was physicist William Thomson.

Prysmian's Monna Lisa vessel, being build by Vard, has reached Norway for final outfitting, installation of main mission equipment and trials, before becoming fully operational in 2025.The 171-meter-long cable laying vessel (CLV) arrived to Norway after travelling 4,000 nautical miles around Europe for 28 days, following its launch at Vard’s shipyard in Tulcea Romania.The vessel was towed down the Danube River, across the Mediterranean Sea, and up the coast of Portugal and Spain…

Vard has launched the cable laying vessel (CLV) being built for Danish offshore services firm NCT Offshore, ahead of delivery planned later in 2024.The newbuild CLV, named Freja, has been launched at Vard Shipyards in Tulcea, Romania.The vessel features VARD 9 01 design, and is especially equipped for subsea cable laying operations and developed in close collaboration with NCT Offshore.According to Vard, the vessel has high focus on sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performances and low fuel consumption.The cable layer…

Danish subsea cable and services firm NKT has boosted the offshore installation capabilities of its cable laying vessel (CLV) NKT Victoria by conducting several technical upgrades.According to NKT, the vessel now features increased cable load capacity, improved station keeping and added installation capabilities.Key upgrades on NKT Victoria include increased load capacity from 9,000 tons to 11,000 tons, added Azimuth retractable thruster in the middle of the hull for improved positioning…

Opsealog, a provider of data integration and analysis services for the maritime and offshore industry, has confirmed the renewal and expansion of its service contract with Orange Marine, a French company specializing in cable laying and repair operations.This extension signifies a deepening of the collaboration between the two companies, which began in May 2023, and highlights their commitment to advancing fleet digitalization and operational efficiency across Orange Marine’s fleet.The partnership commenced with a three-month trial on one of Orange Marine's cable laying vessels (CLV)…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has launched a 171-meter-long cable laying vessel (CLV) Monna Lisa, being built for Prysmian, marking another major milestone towards the delivery of the vessel, scheduled for 2025.Prysmian executives gathered at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania to celebrate the launching of the new CLV Monna Lisa, the sister ship to the cutting-edge Leonardo da Vinci.Steel cutting, keel laying, generators installation and hull erection have successfully been completed on the Monna Lisa…

Palfinger Marine, an Austrian manufacturer of hydraulic lifting, loading, and handling systems for marine applications, has been contracted to supply a major equipment package for a new cable laying vessel, under construction at Vard for Prysmian.Following the previous orders to equip cable laying vessels Leonardo da Vinci and Monna Lisa, Palfinger Marine will provide deck equipment and lifesaving appliances (LSA) for another upcoming cable laying vessel built by Vard for Prysmian.Because the vessel is the evolution of Prysmian’s previous cable layers…

Danish subsea cable and services firm NKT has named its second cable laying vessel (CLV) NKT Eleonora, which has been designed to run on methanol.NKT Eleonora, meaning shining light, will boost the company’s offshore cable laying capacity and will be amongst the world’s first cable laying vessels designed to run on methanol.Equipped with three turntables, NKT Eleonora will offer a power cable-laying capacity of 23,000 tonnes and host a range of subsea tooling for precise installation…

Offshore installation services company Jan De Nul has ordered another XL cable laying vessel (CLV), identical to the Fleeming Jenkin, which boasts ‘unrivalled cable-carrying capacity’.Like the Fleeming Jenkin, the vessel will be 215 meters long and can transport 28,000 tonnes of cables.This will make them the largest capacity cable-laying vessels in the world, according to Jan De Nul.Thanks to cutting-edge technology on both vessels, designed by Jan De Nul Group's own specialists, they can lay cables in both shallow and ultra-deep waters up to 3,000 meters.

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has hired TMC Compressors (TMC) to supply a complete marine compressed air system to a newbuild cable laying vessel being built for Prysmian.Under the contract, whose value was not disclosed, TMC will deliver a marine compressed air system consisting of control and service air compressors to the vessel.The company will manufacture the equipment in the Nordic region and deliver it to one of Vard’s shipyards in Norway.“This modern cable laying vessel will have a number of innovative features to enable sustainable subsea operations.

Bluestone Group, a maritime technical services company, has secured a contract for plan approval and site supervision of two new cutting-edge cable-laying vessels operated by Prysmian.The two new cable-laying vessels, the first of which is under construction and the second under design, will reinforce Prysmian’s submarine project execution capabilities.The first vessel, which will be an evolution of Prysmian’s preceding vessel, Monna Lisa, is being built by the VARD Group, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group.With a length of approximately 190 meters and a breadth of about 34 meters…

New York-based Kalypso Offshore Energy on Monday announced it is teaming up with Dutch marine technology group and shipbuilder Royal IHC to design and construct a Jones Act compliant cable lay vessel (CLV)—the first purpose-built for the U.S. offshore wind market.Under a newly signed letter of intent (LOI), the partners are working together to finalize contract, engineering and construction details to domestically produce a 5,000-ton CLV for anticipated delivery in 2028. The partners have not announced which U.S.

Dutch company Huisman has secured a contract to supply two subsea cranes for Toyo Construction’s new cable laying vessel (CLV), being built by Norwegian shipbuilder Vard.The contract Huisman signed with Vard is for the delivery of full electric 250 mt Hybrid Boom Subsea Crane, and a 100 mt Knuckle Boom Crane that will be integrated into Toyo’s CLV newbuild.The purpose-built VARD 9 15 design is expected to advance capabilities for cable-laying and turbine foundation installation works in the Japanese offshore wind sector.Designed to meet the specific Toyo’s requirements and preferences of Toyo…

After a major conversion, Dutch marine services firm Boskalis has commissioned the BOKA Ocean vessel.The vessel was acquired in 2023 as a pipe-laying vessel and was subsequently converted into a broadly deployable cable-laying vessel.After BOKA Ocean completed its sea trials in the North Sea, the vessel is ‘more than ready’ to start on her maiden project in the German part of the North Sea, Boskalis said.The BOKA Ocean has been reunited in the Boskalis fleet with her two sister vessels.In fact…

Offshore installation services company Jan De Nul has ordered methanol marine engines from ABC Engines for its new cable-laying vessel Fleeming Jenkin with ‘unrivalled cable-carrying capacity’.The order includes four 7,200 kW engines and one 1,800 kW engine that can run on (bio)diesel, HVO and methanol.Using green methanol, the engines are also climate neutral and due to the unique combination with the ULEv technology they also meet the strict Stage V standard for particulate matter and Euro 6 standard for nitrogen.According to Jan De Nul…

Norwegian ship designed and builder Vard has secured a contract from I.T. International Telecom Marine (IT) to convert its platform supply vessel (PSV) IT Infinity into a cable laying vessel (CLV).The PSV was built at Vard Brattvaag and delivered to Volstad Maritime in 2008 under the name Volstad Princess.SD Standard Drilling acquired the vessel in 2017 before it was sold to IT in 2021 and was renamed IT Infinity.The work will be carried out by Vard Brattvaag in Norway and the vessel will be delivered in the third quarter of 2024…

ABB has secured an order from Norwegian shipyard Ulstein Verft to supply an advanced power and propulsion system for a new cable-laying vessel (CLV) being built for Nexans.Upon delivery in 2026, the vessel will join Nexans Skagerrak and sister ship Nexans Aurora – also equipped with ABB technology – as the third and most advanced CLV in the Nexans fleet.An integrated system comprising main power generation and distribution, energy storage, and electric propulsion will allow the new CLV to execute its cable laying…

Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft and Nexans Marine Operations have marked the start of construction of a new DP3 cable-laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Aurora in a steel cutting ceremony held on January 19, 2024.Four months after signing the shipbuilding contract, Nexans Marine Operations and Ulstein Verft officially started he construction of Nexans’ next cable laying vessel.Attending the steel cutting ceremony at the Crist hull yard were representatives from Nexans, Ulstein Verft…

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a large order for three cranes that will be installed onboard a new cable laying vessel (CLV) being built for Prysmian by shipbuilder Vard.MacGregor will deliver a 100-tonne active heave-compensated (AHC) crane, a 20T Offshore crane and a 3T deck crane to Prysmian, to equip the Italian owner’s third NB970 CLV from Vard.The crane supply scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.In addition, MacGregor has been contracted to supply its OnWatch solution…