Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has received approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the design of specialized vessels intended for the jointing and burial of subsea power cables. This initiative is part of a collaborative project with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
MOL’s focus within this project is on developing technologies for cable jointing and burial vessels. The AiP from ClassNK marks a significant achievement in this endeavor. Jointing vessels will be essential for connecting cables laid multiple times at sea, while cable burial vessels will protect these cables from potential damage caused by vessel anchors and fishing nets.
The cable burial process primarily utilizes remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are deployed from a mother ship to place and retrieve cables on the seabed. This method is crucial for maintaining the integrity of power transmission lines, especially those connecting remote wind power generation sites in Hokkaido to major consumption centers.
Long-distance subsea DC transmission is emerging as a viable solution for efficiently transporting large amounts of electricity, supporting both power grid development and offshore wind energy initiatives.
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