MAATS Tech in the UK has been selected to provide the cable-laying equipment for Van Oord’s recently ordered cable-lay vessel
The contract was awarded by Vard Group in Norway, with whom MAATS has jointly developed a number of vessels working in the cable-lay industry today.
At 130 m long and with a 28 m beam, the new vessel is described by Van Oord as a “next-generation, custom-built green cable-laying vessel.”
It is due to become operational in 2023 and will be equipped with what the Dutch owner described as “the latest sustainable technologies.” It will be designed to have a reduced carbon footprint while in operation and in port.
Apart from being able to operate on biofuel, the hybrid vessel will have ‘future fuel ready’ main engines with the ability to use other types of fuels.
It will also have a large battery pack, a shore supply connection and a sophisticated energy management system. This will result in an energy-efficient vessel with reduced CO2, NOx and SOx emissions.
The dynamic positioning class DP2 vessel will be equipped with a below-deck cable carousel and a second carousel on deck.
The vessel will mainly be deployed on inter-array and export cable-lay projects for offshore windfarms. It will also be able to install high voltage direct current cables. Van Oord’s cable trenchers will also operate from it.
MAATS said the design includes a 5,000-tonne below deck carousel and 4,000-tonne on deck carousel complete with loading arms, cable engines and an accompanying 20-tonne quadrant system, all designed to DNV GL certification standards.
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