Van Oord has ordered a new cable layer from VARD in Norway. The new custom-built cable-laying vessel will be equipped with sustainable technologies. The vessel will be fully operational in 2023 and will mainly be deployed on inter-array grid and export cables of offshore wind projects.
The new DP2 vessel is Van Oord’s second cable-laying vessel in addition to the Nexus. The vessel measures 130 metres in length and 28 metres across the beam. It will be equipped with a below-deck cable carousel and a second carousel on deck, with total cable-carrying capacity of 8,000 tonnes. The vessel will be Dutch flagged. Its intelligent cable lay control system will be a further evolution from Nexus.
Sustainable technology
The new vessel has been designed with the latest sustainable technologies in order to reduce the carbon footprint during operations and port standby. Apart from the possibility to run on bio fuel, this hybrid vessel has future fuel ready engines with built-in flexibility to anticipate e-fuels. It will have a large battery pack, a shore supply connection and a state-of-the-art energy management system.
This sustainable set-up will result in a more energy-efficient vessel in order to reduce CO2, NOx and SOx emissions, said Van Oord. ‘Van Oord is committed to reducing CO2 emissions to become carbon-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. This investment emphasises our commitment to net-zero emissions.’ – Pieter van Oord, CEO of Van Oord.
The vessel will mainly be deployed on inter-array grid and export cables of offshore wind projects. The vessel is also able to install High Voltage Direct Current cables. Van Oord’s cable trenchers can also be operated from this vessel.
