Nexans: its latest big investment has a ‘downstream’ focus

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Nexans: its latest big investment has a ‘downstream’ focus Nexans has no lack of plants to showcase, but when it came to focusing on a single operation, it literally looked downstream to the CLV Nexans Aurora (Aurora), the stateof-the-art flagship of the Nexans fleet that was delivered on May 31 by ship builder Ulstein Verft.

The Aurora, a purpose-built Cable Laying Vessel (CLV), is 31 m wide, 149.9 m long and has a deadweight of 17,000 metric tons (mt). It has a load capacity of 10,000 mt that can be split into two 5,000 mt packages. It has a fiber optic basket that can hold 450 mt and there is more space in front of the turntable for storing more cable, space for a Capjet unit (for burying a pre-laid subsea line) and a vertical laying tower (VLS) for umbilicals.

The vessel was developed through the combined experience of Nexans, Skipsteknisk, Ulstein Verft and MAATS Tech, each world-leading in their own fields, to produce an advanced subsea cable and umbilical systems installation vessel for worldwide operations, covering the full range of shallow and deep subsea activities.

The Aurora has an IAS system based on the X-CONNECT™ platform from Blue Ctrl. The universal digital platform for marine automation, control and monitoring is an effective tool for any system integrator working with marine automation.

It will enable the ship to perform multiple, complex tasks needed to lay advanced subsea high voltage systems The CLV Nexans Aurora can deploy to support the electriloads up to 10,000 metric tons. fication of the world, including providing vital connections between countries and regions, offshore renewable solutions as well as electrification solutions for other offshore installations. Some individual features are cited below.

• The hull is designed to ensure particularly good access to shallow waters. It has two laying lines adapted for various operations, such as a port line with tensioners very suitable for bundling and laying on shallower stretches, a capstan for laying to great depths while gently handling the product, and good adapted space for joint operations in a dedicated area.

• Very good working conditions for operations in the built-in cable hangar as well as for the crew in the residential part. The ship can accommodate 90 people.

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The CLV Nexans Aurora will soon be installing subsea cables around the world. Photo courtesy of Nexans.

• The DP3 class ensures full redundancy in all vital ship systems, and optimum propulsion system and positioning that ensures good maneuvering and control of position in very harsh weather conditions.

• The aft bridge, control room and visual monitoring provide a good overview of all in the cable operations.

• The vessel has reinforcements to take on the board winch (for plow) and board helideck.

• Electrical panels and dedicated rooms are ready to install batteries for a possible future hybrid solution, allocated space for a second remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

• The vessel has an internal hangar for work boats that are used for operations near land (floating), cargo space for parking containers with equipment with easy access to cable decks, and dedicated ROV hangar completely aft.

Once launched, the Aurora will lay export cables for offshore wind farms and interconnectors around the world, including projects such as the Seagreen OWF in Scotland, the Crete-Attica interconnector in Greece and the Empire Offshore Wind project in US. Ordered three years ago, the Aurora was delivered on time despite the parallel handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, with all the implications, restrictions and delays being dealt with in areas such as purchasing and deliveries, traveling restrictions, quarantines and much more.

Nexans’ Project Manager Frode Beyer said he was satisfied and relieved after 36 months of construction of the vessel to see it cross the finish line. “This is a memorable day for the project team and for Nexans. We are now looking forward to bringing the Nexans Aurora out into the world to contribute to Nexans’ purpose ‘Electrify the Future,’ for a greener place to be.”

Nexans also owns the C/S Nexans Skagerrak, a dedicated cable-laying ship that the company chartered, then bought in 2006, and lengthened by 12.5 m to 112.5 m in 2010.

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