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China is set to build its largest self-propelled, pure electric-powered cable-laying vessel after a construction deal was signed between Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Shanghai Yuanwei Construction Engineering Co, a unit of Zhongtian Technology Group (ZTT).<\/p>\n
According to industry sources, the vessel will be 139.8 meters long and 38 meters wide, and is being designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC).<\/p>\n
It will be the largest electric-driven cable laying ship in the country and is expected to be delivered by December 2027.<\/p>\n
The ship will feature advanced capabilities including a maximum operating water depth of 200 meters and a cable carrying capacity of 16,000 tonnes, which ZTT called a domestic record.<\/p>\n
It will also be equipped with a helicopter platform, a large coaxial turntable, dual exit channels, and the ability to lay two cables simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Once completed, the ship is expected to lay over 1,000 kilometers of subsea cables every year.<\/p>\n
ZTT has said that the new vessel will help address a regional bottleneck in laying deep-sea cables beyond 100 kilometers and serve as core equipment for Nantong\u2019s offshore expansion.<\/p>\n
The vessel will also support the development of new marine infrastructure such as offshore wind power and energy islands.<\/p>\n
The order was place through ZTT\u2019s Shanghai Yuanwei unit. While the cost of the vessel has not been publicly disclosed, the deal is a significant addition to ZTT\u2019s fleet.<\/p>\n
The company already owns another cable-laying ship delivered in 2018, along with two heavy lift-crane vessels built in 2018 and 2024- each constructed in Chinese shipyards.<\/p>\n
The shipbuilder, Nantong Xiangyu, is better known for its work on bulk carriers and chemical tankers.<\/p>\n
Its current orderbook includes 83 vessels, such as kamsarmax, ultramax, and handysize dry bulk units for clients like Alloceans Shipping, Cardiff Marine, Doun Kisen, Eurobulk and Nisshin Shipping.<\/p>\n
The shipyard also builds chemical tankers between 3,000 and 8,000 deadweight tonnes for owners including GEFO and Stolt Tankers.<\/p>\n
This new electric-powered cable-laying ship is expected to play a key role in China\u2019s marine infrastructure and energy plans in the coming years.<\/p>\n