Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) delivered the first-ever Cable Laying and Repair Vessel (CLRV) to the European market on Friday.
Colombo Dockyard delivered the first Cable Layer (CLV) to Japan in 2019. Now, with the delivery of “C/S Sophie Germain,” this becomes the second vessel of its category delivered by the shipyard. This accomplishment establishes Colombo Dockyard as a leading player in the international market, earning a reputation for successfully delivering two Cable Layer vessels within a short span of five years, a company spokesman said.
Orange Marine, a prominent French company, is a specialist in submarine telecommunications excelling in every aspect of this field, including initial design, engineering, installation of intercontinental and regional links, as well as the maintenance of existing cables was its buyer.
Orange Marine, is widely recognised for its expertise and is considered one of the most experienced in the world, representing an impressive 15% of the global fleet in this sector.
“C/S Sophie Germain” is a state-of-the-art, high-technology vessel, specifically designed and equipped for sub-sea cable laying and repair operations. The vessel was designed by Vard Design AS of NorwayThe detailed design work was carried out in-house by Colombo Dockyard’s skilled design team.
The vessel is 100m in length with a beam of 18.8m and a Depth of 7.15m and shall have a deadweight capacity of 1800 DWT. The vessel can achieve an impressive speed of 14.5 knots and has accommodation facilities for 76 persons. The cost of the vessel was estimated to be around Euro 50 million.
CDPLC Chairman. Hideaki Tanaka acknowledged the challenges faced due to the financial crisis in Sri Lanka, leading to the cancellation of significant projects and the risk of losing their standing in the international market. However, he expressed great satisfaction in the achievement of delivering “C/S Sophie Germain,” which serves as a powerful message to the international market. “It demonstrates that Colombo Dockyard is coming back stronger and more resilient than ever, positioning itself as a tough and capable shipyard in the global arena.”
This project will be instrumental in showcasing CDPLC’s reputation in the European Market with the brand “Built in Sri Lanka blending Sri Lankan technology with Japanese quality”.
French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jean-François Pactet, Japan Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki were also present.