Colombo Dockyard to build ultra-modern cable repair vessel for UK’s Global Marine Systems
Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), has carved out a name as one of the most preferred Cable Laying Vessel building shipyards in the world. CDPLC recently signed a Shipbuilding Contract with Global Marine Systems Limited of UK to build a Cable Laying and Repair Vessel. The proposed Vessel shall be ultra-modern and fitted out with high technology machinery and equipment. This Vessel is specially designed and equipped for sub-sea cable lay and repair operation duties with a high focus on good sea keeping qualities, excellent station keeping performance and low fuel consumption.The Vessel has been designed by Vard Design AS of Norway and an optimised hull form and bow shape developed by Vard has been incorporated in the design, enabling the Vessel to achieve high speeds and minimise its carbon footprints, to be a highly eco-friendly Vessel.The Vessel shall be built to Bureau Veritas Classification Society standards and shall meet the specified regulatory requirements. The Vessel’s environmental friendliness with focus on low fuel consumption shall be in accordance with BV CLEANSHIP requirements.The Vessel’s primary activities shall be to carry out cable operations, including laying, repair and Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection. The Vessel is 100m in length with a beam of 18.8m and a Depth of 7.15m and shall have a deadweight capacity of 1800DWT. The Vessel can achieve an impressive speed of 14.5 knots and has accommodation facilities for 76 persons. The Vessel has three cable tanks to carry fiber optic cables. It will be fitted out with a diesel-electric propulsion plant. The power plant shall consist of four generator sets for electrical propulsion power. The Vessel’s propulsion shall be by two main Azipod propellers in the aft and two tunnel thrusters in the forward and the system will be run and monitored by Integrated Automation System and Power Management System.In 2019, CDPLC successfully built and delivered a 113m Cable Laying Vessel ‘KDDI Cable Infinity’ to Japan and in 2023 built and delivered a 100m Cable Laying and Repair Vessel ‘Sophie Germain’ to France. With the successful completion of all these projects, CDPLC were awarded further shipbuilding contracts to build two more Cable Laying and Repair Vessels for France which are currently under construction scheduled to be delivered in March 2028 and January 2029. The Vessel to Global Marine will be delivered in September 2029.With this, it marks Colombo Dockyards stamping of presence into the prestigious European market establishing Colombo as a preferred Shipbuilding destination for European Ship Owners.CDPLC has the prestigious Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, India, as its majority shareholder. Incidentally, this is the 2nd Cable Laying Vessel shipbuilding contract CDPLC was able to successfully secure and enter into following the collaboration with Mazagon Dock.
