Prysmian’s new cable-lay vessel Leonardo da Vinci recently commenced sea trials. Leonardo da Vinci is due to undergo sea trials for approximately two weeks, and the vessel is expected to be fully operational shortly
Like other new-generation cable-lay vessels, Leonardo da Vinci will have a much larger cable-loading capacity compared to earlier units and like its competitors, this will enable it to install cables with fewer joints.
The vessel will also be able to carry out cable laying and burial operations simultaneously, thus shortening the time required to undertake large-scale projects such as export cables and interconnectors.
The new vessel was designed to provide an especially high level of flexibility, and to be able to install cables in deep water of more than 3,000 m when required. It has two carousels, one of 7,000 tonnes capacity and one of 10,000 tonnes.
The vessel will have two independent laying lines to increase flexibility and a bollard pull of in excess of 180 tonnes, conferring the ability to undertake simultaneous laying and cable burial, supporting a variety of burial machines such as heavy-duty ploughs and the company’s Hydroplow.
In addition, it will be equipped with a DP3 dynamic positioning system. The propulsion system is designed to reduce the ship’s environmental footprint.
Designed to be able to undertake bundled cable laying in addition to simultaneous laying and burial, the new vessel has a length of approximately 172 m, a beam of 34 m and accommodation for 120 people.
With a speed in transit of in excess of 14 knots, Leonardo da Vinci has a hybrid propulsion system with six diesel generators and two battery-based energy storage systems, each of 750 kW, providing the vessel with a total of 21 MW.
The battery power will assist with peak shaving, when energy demands on the vessel are high, and will help to reduce fuel consumption.
Prysmian Group recently finalised a contract with RWE Renewables for the high-voltage submarine and land export cable connection for the 1.4-GW Sofia offshore windfarm in the North Sea, a project for which Leonardo da Vinci will be used.
The group announced it had been selected as the preferred bidder for the project in November 2020. The contract is worth more than €200M (US$244M).
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