Posted on December 16, 2024
Nordic shipbuilder Vard has successfully delivered a cable-laying vessel to I.T. International Telecom Marine (IT), a submarine cable installation and maintenance firm.
The vessel was formerly a platform supply vessel and was converted into a specialized cable-laying ship, named IT Infinity, to meet the increasing demands of the subsea telecommunication industry.
The work required 550 tons of steel, all sourced and processed in Norway. The company said it installed a 60-ton A-frame, 25-ton cable drum engine, 20-ton linear cable engine, MD3 cable plow systems, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), fiber optic cable testing and joining equipment, and a DP2 Class approved positioning system.
As well as structural changes, Vard installed a new switchboard and cabling, and updated the electrical systems.
Conversion work took place at Vard Brattvaag in Norway.
This is the same place where the ship was originally built in 2008 by Vard. At the time, the ship known as the Volstad Princess was delivered to Volstad Maritime.
It was later acquired by SD Standard Drilling in 2017, before being sold to IT in 2021. IT renamed the ship and returned it to Vard for the necessary conversion work.
“We are very proud that IT chose Vard as their partner for their significant conversion,” said Wilhelm Eggesbø, senior vice president of services at Vard. “We leveraged our core competencies and extensive experience in the design and construction of advanced cable laying vessels to meet IT’s needs. This project underscores Vard’s strength in our fully integrated value chain and reinforces our strong position in the aftermarket.”
Headquartered in Ålesund in Norway, Vard also has locations in Brazil, Romania, and Vietnam. The company provides design and engineering services throughout the maritime industry, including power and automation systems, deck handling equipment, and vessel accommodation solutions.
Founded in 1995, IT is a submarine cable network provider; installing, designing, and maintaining submarine fiber optic. The company says on its website it has projects in more than 65 countries.
In addition to IT Infinity, the company also owns cable-laying ships IT Intrepid and IT Integrity.
Cable ships are few and far between. According to the ISCPC, there are around 60 cable ships in operation, many of which are more than 30 years old. With more than 400 subsea cables running and demand increasing, a limited supply of vessels can delay projects and slow repairs.
In October this year, OMS signed a contract with Royal IHC for the construction of several cable-laying ships to meet the surge in telecommunications demand.
