Boskalis will invest in a new high-capacity cable-laying vessel (CLV) targeting the offshore wind and interconnector markets, the company said on 18 May.
According to the company, the vessel is designed to support growing demand for long-distance cable installation, particularly for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, driven by the electrification of energy demand and grid expansion.
The newbuild CLV will feature two 12,000-tonne cable carousels, including a concentric carousel, giving the vessel a total cable carrying capacity of 24,000 tonnes. Boskalis said the design will enable the installation of longer continuous cable sections, reducing the need for offshore joints.
“Cross-border interconnectors and offshore wind transmission systems increasingly require long-distance cable solutions, which this vessel can deliver”, the company said in a press release.
The vessel is scheduled to enter service in 2029.
Boskalis currently operates three CLVs, a trenching support vessel and a portfolio of trenching equipment.
The company recently expanded its fleet with a new subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel , described by the company as the largest in the industry, which arrived in the Netherlands in April for final outfitting and commissioning ahead of its first assignment later this year.