VESSEL REVIEW | Freja – NCT Offshore welcomes new cable layer to fleet
Danish subsea installation specialist NCT Offshore recently took delivery of a new cable laying vessel from Norwegian shipbuilder Vard.
Freja has been specially designed by Vard Design in collaboration with the owner and is equipped for subsea cable laying operations as an upgraded variant of an existing Vard offshore vessel design. It features enhanced seakeeping capabilities and station-keeping performance as well as low fuel consumption, making it suitable for sustainable operations.
Vard said Freja was commissioned and ready to depart on its maiden voyage to Denmark less than 18 months after the cutting of the first steel. Construction of the vessel’s hull took place at Vard Tulcea in Romania while the final outfitting, commissioning and delivery were undertaken at Vard Langsten in Norway.
Following its arrival in Denmark, the vessel and its equipment will undergo further outfitting and testing. The equipment to be tested includes the walk-to-walk gangway, the subsea package, and some of the cable laying gear. Among the notable equipment are two cable laying carousels with capacities of 2,500 tonnes and 1,750 tonnes, respectively.
Advanced propulsion and electronics setup for improved operating efficiency
Freja has a length of approximately 95 metres (310 feet), a beam of 21.5 metres (70.5 feet), and a hybrid propulsion setup that will deliver a bollard pull in excess of 60 tonnes and a maximum speed of 14 knots. The hybrid setup includes a 1,790kWh battery pack and a Kongsberg Maritime package consisting of twin TT2650 DPN 1,200kW bow thrusters, a TCNS075-M-170 880kW retractable azimuthing thruster, and two US255 P30 2,200kW fixed-pitch azimuth thrusters at the stern.
The vessel is equipped with a complete SeaQ power and control package, encompassing batteries, switchboards, and shore connection, allowing for a reduction in fuel consumption and increased operability. All this will be operated from the SeaQ bridge with focus on ease of operation, safety, and ergonomics.
Comprehensive deck equipment suite
Additionally, the vessel is fitted with an ROV hangar and a walk-to-work gangway, and is prepared for a large A-frame and single-cabin accommodation for up to 60 personnel. The gangway is designed for trolley operators conveying loads up to 650 kg and features a minimum inner width of 1.2 metres (3.9 feet).
The deck equipment also includes cranes from Aukra Maritime, which also supplied the vessel’s hatches.
The vessel is equipped with a DP2 system as the primary activities are inter-array cable installation, with cable repair/maintenance and fiber optic cable installation capabilities also built into the design.
Freja is the second vessel to be built by Vard for NCT Offshore following a 2023-built platform supply vessel.
