Image credit: Colombo Dockyard
Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) has secured a major international shipbuilding contract to construct an ultra-modern cable laying and repair vessel for Global Marine Systems Limited of the United Kingdom.
The contract was signed in Colombo by CDPLC Managing Director and CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura and Global Marine Systems Limited CEO Simon Hibberd.
The vessel will be equipped with advanced technology and its primary activities will be to carry out cable operations, including laying, repair and Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection.
Designed by Norway’s Vard Design AS, the vessel will be built according to Bureau Veritas classification standards and comply with international environmental requirements.
An optimized hull form and bow shape developed by Vard has been incorporated in the design.
The 100-metre-long vessel, with a beam of 18.8m and a depth of 7.15m, will have a capacity of 1,800 tonnes, a top speed of 14.5 knots, and accommodation facilities for 76 people.
The vessel for Global Marine Systems Limited is scheduled for delivery in September 2029.
The company has previously delivered similar vessels, including the 113m cable laying vessel KDDI Cable Infinity to Japan and in 2023 the 100m cable laying and repair vessel Sophie Germain to France.
With the completion of these projects, CDPLC also secured contracts for two more cable laying and repair vessels for France, which are currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in March 2028 and January 2029.
Global Marine Group has confirmed it has ordered what it described as a ‘next-generation cable maintenance vessel at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka.
It said the vessel is due to be delivered in Q4 2029 and is designed specifically for fibre optic submarine cable repair operations.
