Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka recently announced that its contract with French subsea cable operator Orange Marine to build two new fiber optic cable ships has officially taken effect. The contract, finalized last November, involves the construction of advanced cable-laying vessels based on a design from Norway's Vard. All prerequisite conditions have now been met, and the project has entered the implementation phase.

Colombo Dockyard stated that the current ship design work is progressing smoothly in collaboration with Vard, and the procurement process has commenced. To ensure the project is completed on schedule, long-lead-time critical machinery and equipment components have been ordered in advance. These fiber optic cable ships will be specifically used for the maintenance of subsea fiber optic telecommunications cables, serving as essential tools in the cable ship market.

The Vard 9 03 model design customized for Orange Marine focuses on optimizing seaworthiness, fuel efficiency, and spatial layout, aiming to enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of cable repair operations. Kjell Morten Urke, General Manager of Vard Design, said, "We highly value the collaboration between Orange Marine, Colombo Dockyard, and Vard, which adds two professionally designed vessels to the fiber optic cable ship sector. Our team has accumulated extensive experience in cable-laying ship design, and our engineers continue to develop innovative solutions, working closely with clients to achieve optimal functionality, efficient operations, and lasting value."

This cooperation marks a significant step for Colombo Dockyard in the field of fiber optic cable ship construction and is expected to enhance global subsea cable maintenance capabilities. As the project progresses, the relevant parties will continue to coordinate to ensure the smooth delivery and operational deployment of these two fiber optic cable ships.