The Damen-built subsea support vessel Maersk Connector was launched Thursday at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania.
The vessel is owned and operated by Maersk Supply Service and is built to contract for a seven year charter agreement with DeepOcean.
Maersk Connector is the second of a new generation of cable-laying vessels developed by the Damen Shipyards Group called the Offshore Carrier 8500. Equipped with survey and trenching capabilities, the vessel will extend DeepOcean’s capabilities in the cable-laying market, representing a new focus on interconnector projects in addition to oil and gas sector and renewables work. The vessel’s 7,000 tonne carousel will make it well suited for installation and burial projects from land-fall to deep water and also for operations in remote geographical locations – particularly in North Sea.
Developed as a flexible platform for both transport and installation work offshore, the DOC 8500 is 138 meters in length and has a beam of 27.5 meters. The 9,300 dwt vessel features 2,200 square meters of unobstructed deck with a loading capacity of 20t/m2 and ro-ro capability. Top speed will be 12 knots.
Following the launch, the Maersk Connector is now berthed at Damen Shipyards Galati and installation is getting underway on the helideck, cranes and bridge, as well as the fitting-out of the interior. Sea trials are expected to commence by the end of this year.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
Maersk is keeping significant cargo restrictions and emergency surcharges in place across the Persian Gulf, offering the latest sign that commercial shipping remains far from normal despite recent announcements of...
At nearly 40 years old, Lars Jensen’s Volkswagen camper van appeals to him mostly for its lack of modern features. The vehicle he calls “Sally” is just the right rig to drive around Africa over the next 18 months to explore the world’s most promising supply chain frontier.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has secured a $1.9 million civil penalty settlement from Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk over allegations the carrier improperly billed third parties for detention charges...
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
