Thumbs-up for NYK’s long-distance subsea cable-laying vessel design

Japanese classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has given its approval in principle (AiP) to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) for a design concept of a cable-laying vessel envisioned to handle the construction of a long-distance subsea direct current (DC) transmission network in Japan.

NYK was subcontracted in 2022 by Sumitomo Electric to conduct an initial conceptual design of a self-propelled cable-laying vessel suitable for Japan’s conditions regarding ‘Research and Development of a Multi-purpose and Multi-terminal HIGH Voltage Direct Current Transmission System (RIGHT Project),’ subsidized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

The following year, NEDO selected the Japanese shipping player, as part of a four-company consortium with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), for a public solicitation regarding the development of construction methods for the installation of a cable protecting system, and the development of new cable-laying vessels for the same project.

As a result, NYK began designing a self-propelled cable-laying vessel in cooperation with Sumitomo Electric. This concept has now received the AiP from ClassNK. As a result, the firm will proceed with the detailed vessel design to obtain basic design approval from the classification society.

The Japanese shipping major sees the development of a power transmission network as crucial to increasing the amount of electricity generated in the future, since suitable locations for wind power generation, such as Hokkaido, are far from areas of major electricity demand.

Therefore, constructing a long-distance subsea DC transmission network using cable-laying vessels is perceived as a promising solution to this issue. Together with Sumitomo Electric, NYK claims to be developing the basic technology for cable-laying vessels that will contribute to the development of a domestic DC subsea transmission network.

“We will continue contributing to realizing a decarbonized society by optimizing the vessel’s design,” highlighted the Japanese shipping giant, which recently took delivery of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).

This vessel will be chartered to a subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power under a contract signed in 2022. The Japanese firm also presented a design concept for the country’s first Malacca Max type very large crude carrier (VLCC) that can run on methanol as an alternative fuel.