Dutch dredging and heavylift company Royal Boskalis has announced an investment in a new 24,000t cable-laying vessel to address growing demand in the offshore wind and interconnector sectors.
The vessel, expected to begin operations in 2029, will help install high-voltage direct current cables required for long-distance energy transmission.
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According to Boskalis, decarbonisation and energy-independence goals are driving rapid electrification, increasing the need for stronger, more resilient grid infrastructure.
Equipped with two 12,000t cable carousels, including a concentric system, the vessel will be capable of laying longer stretches of subsea cable in single sections.
This approach aims to reduce the number of connections made offshore, which Boskalis claims will help maintain cable integrity and lower operational costs.
Boskalis has more than 15 years of experience in subsea cable installation, having worked on more than 140 subsea cable projects to date.
The company currently operates three cable-laying vessels and a trenching support vessel, as well as a range of customised trenching equipment. Its operations span survey, seabed preparation, dredging, cable laying and rock installation, providing comprehensive solutions in the offshore energy sector.
This investment is positioned by Boskalis as a measure to support the transition to renewable energy and to enhance global grid infrastructure in response to energy market developments.
In February, Boskalis and TKF Subsea Solutions obtained a contract from OWP Gennaker to supply and install inter-array cables at the Gennaker Offshore Wind Farm in the German Baltic Sea.
Under the terms of the agreement, the partnership will provide approximately 140km of 66kV cables to connect 63 wind turbine generators within the project area.
TKF will produce the cables in the Netherlands and Boskalis will use its cable-laying vessel the BOKA Ocean to carry out installation work, which is due for completion by the end of 2027.
