MOL secures approval for specialised subsea power cable joining and burial vessels

MOL identifies offshore wind as a key segment in its management plan.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has obtained approval in principle (AiP) for the basic design of specialised vessels to joint and bury subsea power cables.

In a statement, MOL said the approval was awarded by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). The AiPs for the cable lay support joining vessel and cable lay support burial vessels are based on Rules for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships, Part O: Work ships and Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008.

“Long-distance subsea DC transmission is regarded as a promising solution for efficiently transmitting large volumes of power, and it is considered effective not only for power grid development but also for offshore wind power generation,” MOL said.

“MOL is working with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) to develop fundamental technologies, including a new type of cable-laying vessel, as part of a project subsidised by the Japanese government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization,” the company said.

The MOL Group identifies offshore wind power as a key business segment in its "BLUE ACTION 2035" management plan. By developing vessels for subsea power cables, the group aims to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy and the realisation of a decarbonised society.