Singapore based Megamas Resources in partnership with Renaissance Technologies (RTM) has contracted Ulstein Design & Solutions AS for the design of a modern, advanced, highly integrated, and fuel-efficient cable laying and repair vessel.
This decision was taken in view of the shortage of cable ships, as well as an aging fleet in the submarine cable industry. Megamas Resources will be introducing 2 new-builds with the first targeting to be ready for service early 2026, to fill the gap in meeting the industry demands.
The vessel is designed for the laying and maintenance of submarine cables, both fibre-optic telecommunication cables and power cables, covering the inter-array and export power cables for offshore wind farms.
The cable ship will be 120 metres long with a beam of 23 metres. She can accommodate 70 people, with a deadweight capacity of 8,000 tonnes, and is yet able to achieve a passage speed of 14 knots.
The cable ship is DP2 Class and can operate in shallow water down to 15 metres. She also has a built-in advanced acoustic sonar capable of producing seabed maps quicker and with greater quality, ensuring the highest resolution data and hence reducing ship survey time and cost.
She will be equipped with two cable tanks, of which one to be fitted with a carousel system and a guided spooler. An integral hangar enabling operations and sheltered maintenance of TROV (Trenching ROV) and an A-Frame for plough deployment over the stern enable the vessel to undertake all type of cable burial operations.
”We are happy to announce that together with the experts from Ulstein, the submarine cable industry will soon be able to enjoy not one but two, newly built, state of the art, high-performance cable ships. We aim to deliver excellence beyond boundaries with green solutions to our existing and potential clients in the submarine cable industry,” says Captain Tiew Sien Kheng, Megamas Resources Managing Director.
"The cable-laying industry is growing, and we are happy to provide the concept design for two new vessels in this segment. Our vision is to create tomorrow’s solutions for sustainable marine operations and to secure the shipowner long-term competitiveness. We are dedicated to providing designs for cost-efficient vessel operations, taking into account the safety and comfort of the crew and the efficiency of operations", states Rolf Petter Almli, sales manager at Ulstein Design & Solutions AS.
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Cable Lay
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Cable Laying Vessels
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Why is the X-BOW particularly well suited for Cable laying vessels?
With an ULSTEIN X-BOW® Cable Laying Vessel, vessel motions will be reduced and, consequently, also the strain on the cable. This might allow operations in worse weather conditions than a vessel with a conventional bow. Due to the absence of whipping movements in the ship, there will be less wear and tear of the cable.
