Orange Marine, a subsidiary of France’s Orange, announced that it has signed a contract with Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka for the construction of two new cable-laying vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029.
The two new vessels are sister vessels to the Sophie Germain, launched in 2023. Upon delivery, they will replace the Léon Thévenin, built in 1983, and the Antonio Meucci, built in 1987.
The new vessel is primarily designed for submarine cable maintenance and is capable of laying connecting segments up to 1,000 kilometers long. It will employ several technologies that will reduce fuel consumption and local emissions by 20% compared to existing vessels, including a diesel-electric hybrid power system with backup batteries, an azimuth thruster, and shore power access capabilities. It will also be equipped with an underwater robot (ROV) for cable inspection and burial.
Didier Dillard, President of Orange Marine, added that the, “aging of the cable ship fleet is a major concern for all players in the submarine cable industry” and that the newbuilds will provide the company with the “most modern fleet in the world”.