Italian cable manufacturer Prysmian's new cable-laying vessel Prysmian Alessandro Volta has begun sea trials in Norway, the company and shipbuilder Vard announced on Friday, October 23.
Vard said the trials are being conducted from its Søviknes shipyard. Prysmian said the vessel would then join its fleet to lay power cables beneath the sea.
The 192.8-metre vessel is the largest ever launched by Vard.
The DP3 cable layer can carry 19,000 tonnes across its three carousels, and its tensioner system can withstand a maximum tension of 60 tonnes. It is designed to lay power cables in water depths of up to 1,500 metres.
Vard began construction at its yard in Tulcea, Romania, in September 2024. In January 2026, the vessel set off for Søviknes to complete outfitting and install its main mission equipment before delivery in 2027.
The vessel has a breadth of 34 metres, a deadweight of 21,500 tonnes and a bollard pull of 220 tonnes.
Its maximum speed exceeds 16 knots, and it has accommodation for 130 people. Aft propulsion is provided by three azimuth propulsion units, each rated at four eMW.
Prysmian intends to deploy a new heavy-duty cable burial plough from both Prysmian Alessandro Volta and Prysmian Monna Lisa. The plough was supplied by SMD and can bury cables up to five metres beneath mean seabed level, depending on seabed conditions.
