The keel-laying ceremony, which took place ahead of schedule at PaxOcean’s Batam yard, is the second such project the yard has undertaken on behalf of the Japanese company, having previously built a wind turbine installation vessel for it.

The vessel will have a power cable storage capacity of 10,000 tonnes with two 5,000-tonne carousels and is designed for global operations. It will have a DP2 dynamic positioning system, methanol-fuel engines and an energy storage system. It will be equipped with a trencher/cable-buying machine from SMD in the UK and a remotely operated vehicle.

The Japanese company turned to Salt Ship Design in Norway for the design of the vessel, which will be 50% owned by a subsidiary of Penta Ocean and Fuyo General Lease Co Ltd.

The vessel is due to be delivered in February 2028.