ClassNK awards AIP for NYK's cable-lay vessel concept

NYK recently obtained approval in principle (AIP) from ClassNK for the design concept of a cable-laying vessel for the construction of a long-distance subsea direct current transmission network in Japan.

NYK said that, since suitable locations for wind-power generation, such as Hokkaido, are far from areas of major electricity demand, developing a power transmission network is crucial to increase the amount of electricity generated in the future. One solution to this issue is the construction of a long-distance subsea DC transmission network using cable-laying vessels.

As part of a four-company consortium with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric, and Mitsui OSK Lines, NYK has been participating in the "Development of construction methods for the installation of cable protecting system, etc. and the development of new cable-laying vessels, etc.” of "Research and Development of a Multi-purpose and Multi-terminal HIGH Voltage Direct Current Transmission System (RIGHT Project)", projects subsidised by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO).

Cooperating with Sumitomo Electric, NYK is developing the basic technology for cable-laying vessels that will contribute to the development of a domestic DC subsea transmission network. The company has now obtained the AIP from ClassNK with the cooperation of Furukawa Electric.

NYK will proceed with the detailed vessel design and aim to obtain basic design approval from ClassNK.