Dubai-based P&O Maritime Logistics has announced plans to convert one of its existing vessels into a Cable-Laying Vessel (CLV) powered by green methanol.
The CLV will predominantly be used to installing export and inner array cables connecting offshore wind farms with shore-based infrastructure.
For the project, P&O will convert its Multi-Carrying Vessel Topaz Mockba, which was constructed in 2018 by Yard. The newly converted vessel will have the ability to host up to 64 crew and features a single basket cable carousel with an outside diameter of 24 meters. It will also feature an ultra-shallow draft, engineered grounding capability, and has a 4,000-tonne cable load capacity.
Set to start operations in the third quarter of 2024, the vessel will feature a state-of-the-art battery system, as well as a low fuel consumption propulsion layout for green methanol fuel.
“The conversion of our vessel is a real step change. It means, apart from expanding our existing services and products into a more specialised offering, that we can also make a positive contribution to the decarbonisation of our industry,” said Martin Helweg, CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics. “One way of doing this is by using alternative energy to power the converted vessel. The other important contribution is that the Cable Laying Vessel will predominately support the construction, development, and maintenance of existing and prospective wind farms. Lastly, and by repurposing an existing vessel, we are able to extend the lifetime of this particular product quite significantly to keep up with the increasing demand in the sector.”
The conversion builds on the company’s recent success in Taiwan with the Topaz Installer, a cable-lay vessel that is being utilized to install shore-to-sea and inter-field cable arrays until 2024.
“We are pleased to support P&O Maritime Logistics with the design of a cable-laying vessel by repurposing an existing module carrier vessel,” said Marc van der Zwaluw, Project Manager at C-Job Naval Architects, which provided the concept design for the conversion. “With the increasing demand in the offshore wind sector, this vessel will be able to meet the operational demands for the installation of next-generation windmill infrastructure thanks to its optimised deck layout.
“Furthermore, in close cooperation with P&O Maritime Logistics, we were able to create a design that was best suited to their operational profile. The design focused on optimised vessel performance and features a DP-2 positioning system and a low fuel consumption propulsion layout that is ready for green methanol fuel and zero emission operations,” van der Zwaluw added.
P&O Maritime Logistics is a DP World company.
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