French cabling specialist Nexans has returned to Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein with a contract for the construction of a large DP3 cable laying vessel.
The vessel, an ST-297 CLV design by Skipsteknisk, will be an updated version of the Nexans Aurora, delivered in 2021.
“We awarded the contract for a new vessel to Ulstein after an extensive tendering process, where Ulstein’s track record, including the delivery of Nexans Aurora, was an important factor in deciding on the shipyard Ulstein Verft yet again,” said Pascal Radue, Nexans executive vice president for generation and transmission business.
The price tag has not been disclosed for the 149.9-m-long newbuild expected to deliver in 2026. The vessel will feature a split turntable on deck capable of holding up to 10,000t of cable, an under-deck turntable with a 3,500t cable capacity, and a fibre optic basket holding 450t.
Other cabling players have also invested in their fleets on the back of the booming offshore wind and interconnection market. Italy’s Prysmian is building a ship at Vard for delivery in 2025, while Danish cable maker NKT plans to have a newbuild ready by 2027.
