ABB Orders Advanced Cable Laying Vessel at Kleven

Swiss power technology ABB says it is investing in a new state-of-the-art cable ship to boost capacity and flexibility of its subsea cable installation and service operations.

The new ship will be custom-built to ABB specifications and measure approximately 140 by 30 meters. The vessel will be constructed at Kleven shipyard in Norway, with delivery expected in 2017.

“This next-generation vessel incorporating state-of-the-art ABB technologies will be a key differentiator for our high-voltage cable business, enhancing flexibility and execution ability,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Systems division. “It will also improve operational efficiency and customer focus, supporting profitable growth in line with our Next Level strategy.”

The new ship will deploy many of ABB’s own leading marine technologies, such as the award-winning Onboard DC Grid and power distribution solution which uses a single DC circuit for ship propulsion to reduce power consumption. ABB says that the vessel will also set new standards for reliability and accuracy, with roll-reduction tanks and subsea operations executed and monitored by a remotely operated vehicle using cameras and sonar, avoiding the need for divers.

The vessel will also feature a complete ABB Integrated Automation System and three Azipod propulsion units. Together with an energy storage system, it will cut fuel consumption by 27 percent and reduce maintenance compared to traditional AC systems, according to ABB. Sensors, monitoring hardware and software will allow data to be sent to shore via a satellite link, allowing the onshore technical support centers to work closely with the ship as part of ABB’s so-called Integrated Marine Operations solution. Advanced advisory software for motion monitoring, forecasting and decision support will also be on board. Dynamic positioning (DP3) technology meanwhile will help the ship maintain its position with a high amount of precision.

Illustrations courtesy ABB

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