Construction begins for NKT’s second cable layer with steel-cutting in Romania

Danish power cable manufacturer and installation company NKT has cut the first steel for its new cable-laying vessel (CLV) which will be able to run on both methanol and HVO/marine diesel oil.

The milestone was celebrated at Vard’s shipyard in Romania where the construction, planning and engineering design are being carried out for NKT Eleonora.

To remind, on the back of a record order backlog and strong market outlook, NKT announced investments in the new vessel, as well as in a new high-voltage factory on the existing site in Karlskrona, Sweden, in May 2023, with both assets expected operational from 2027.

It was reported yesterday, November 5, that the new cable extrusion tower in Karlskrona had reached its full height of 200 meters, becoming the second tallest tower in the Nordics.

As for NKT Eleonora, the vessel will feature Wärtsilä 32 methanol engines. Wärtsilä is also supplying the front tunnel and azimuth thruster, NOV REMACUT the cable lay system, cranes and mission equipment, and ABB will deliver its Onboard DC Grid power distribution system.

The 176-meter-long CLV was designed by Salt Ship Design. Equipped with three turntables, it will offer a cable-laying capacity of 23,000 tonnes.