Posted on July 31, 2024
Taihan Cable & Solution announced that on July 24, they held a launching ceremony for the 6,200-ton submarine cable laying vessel “Palos” at the Godeok Pier in the Asan National Industrial Complex, Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, where their submarine cable factory is located. Palos is the only offshore wind power CLV (Cable Laying Vessel) in the country and can load up to 4,400 tons of submarine cable at once.
The event was attended by around 200 participants, including key local figures such as Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do, and Oh Seong-hwan, Mayor of Dangjin. Representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Wind Energy Industry Association, as well as various power companies, clients, and partner companies also attended.
The name “Palos” was decided through a naming contest held among the company’s employees. Palos is named after the Spanish port city from which explorer Columbus embarked on his first voyage over 500 years ago, symbolizing the company’s aspiration to successfully venture into the new territory of submarine cable construction.
Palos is a CLV designed and built specifically for submarine cable laying from the start, offering superior performance compared to CLBs (Cable Laying Barges) that are repurposed cargo barges. Unlike general vessels, Palos has a flat bottom, allowing it to be deployed to various sites regardless of water depth. It is equipped with advanced features such as the Dynamic Positioning System (DP2), which ensures precise vessel positioning.
The powered vessel can travel at a speed of up to 9 knots, enabling it to manage submarine cable laying much more accurately and stably compared to CLBs, which are towed by tugboats and cannot respond as effectively to weather changes and tides.
By securing the laying vessel, Taihan Cable & Solution has acquired the capability to handle the entire value chain of submarine cables, including design, production, transportation, construction, testing, and maintenance. As only a handful of companies around the world possess turnkey competitiveness in submarine cables, Taihan Cable & Solution is expected to secure various business opportunities in the rapidly growing offshore wind power market.
Song Jong-min, Vice Chairman of Taihan Cable & Solution, stated, “Today’s launching ceremony marks South Korea’s rise to one of the few countries globally equipped with a CLV, with only about 30 such vessels existing worldwide. Palos will not only bolster Taihan Cable & Solution’s construction competitiveness but also serve as a critical strategic asset that protects Korea’s offshore wind power market from overseas influences.”
