Daehan Electric Wire has strengthened its competitiveness in the undersea cable sector by acquiring a 10,000-ton dedicated cable laying vessel (CLV). As investments in offshore wind and international power grids expand, securing vessels has become crucial for winning contracts. The company aims to accelerate its entry into the global undersea cable market with a fleet of large CLVs.
On May 14, Daehan Electric Wire announced that it has signed a purchase agreement for the Skandi Connector, a 10,000-ton CLV, with its current owner, DOF. The vessel is expected to be delivered to South Korea in August.
The Skandi Connector can carry up to 7,000 tons of undersea cable at once, making it a significant addition to Daehan Electric Wire's fleet, which already includes the Palos, the only offshore wind CLV in South Korea. This marks the second offshore wind CLV introduced in the country.
Equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DP2), the vessel can maintain precise positioning even in changing weather conditions. It also features specialized installation equipment, including a large carousel and tensioner, enabling it to undertake both long-distance and short-distance HVDC undersea cable installations.
In the global undersea cable market, securing cable laying vessels has emerged as a critical bottleneck, as their availability can determine the success of contracts. Large vessels have long construction times and limited operational availability, making timely acquisition essential for meeting project schedules. Daehan Electric Wire's decision to acquire an existing high-spec CLV instead of building a new one is seen as a proactive measure to address this construction bottleneck.
With this vessel acquisition, Daehan Electric Wire has further advanced its vertical integration system, allowing it to manage the entire process from design and production to transport and installation. The company plans to enhance its turnkey competitiveness and project responsiveness in collaboration with its specialized subsidiary, Daehan Oceanworks.
Daehan Electric Wire stated, "With the additional CLV, we now have a construction system capable of simultaneously executing offshore wind projects and long-distance grid connections. We will reliably carry out various undersea cable projects both domestically and internationally, continuously strengthening our competitiveness in the global market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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