Deugro delivers 15,500 MT of subsea cables from Japan and Norway to Abu Dhabi, supporting a major HVDC project with precision logistics and on-time execution across multiple ports.
In a critical milestone for the electrification of a major High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine cable project, global freight forwarder Deugro has successfully delivered 15,500 metric tons of subsea cables to a cable-laying vessel in Abu Dhabi. The logistics operation was coordinated by Deugro Korea, working in tandem with teams in Japan and the UAE to meet a tight delivery schedule set by client Samsung C&T (SCT).
The delivery included 700 kilometres of MRC, DC400kV, and fibre-optic (FO) cables, sourced from ports in Japan and Norway and shipped to the UAE via multiple heavy lift vessels. Deugro provided an end-to-end logistics solution, including vessel chartering, ocean freight, technical coordination, and final disposal of static tanks used in the transport process.
“To start the installation process and minimize the overall cost of the project, the cables needed to be delivered quickly and on time,” said Jong-Yub Han, Sales and Business Development Manager Operations at Deugro Korea. “Scheduling, precise preparation, and smooth project execution were therefore paramount.”
One of the main challenges emerged during the first shipment from the Port of Osaka, when the consignee’s Maritime Warranty Surveyor (MWS) unexpectedly required acceleration data monitoring during transit. With no system on board the UHL Falcon, Deugro quickly sourced and hand-delivered a motion monitoring system to Japan for installation.
The operation involved three primary cable types:
140 kilometers of MRC cable loaded in Osaka, Japan, and shipped via UHL Falcon.
280 kilometers of DC400kV cable spooled at the Port of Hitachi onto UHL Force and UHL Fierce.
280 kilometers of FO cable collected from the Port of Rognan, Norway, and loaded onto the BBC Austria, with baskets pre-positioned from Finneid.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, the subsea cables were transloaded to the cable-laying vessel MV Isaac Newton. The MRC and DC400kV cables were spooled directly from the transport vessels, while the FO cables were crane-lifted to the pier and later loaded onto the installation vessel. All static tanks used for the cable spooling were dismantled after the successful transfer.
“Thanks to the close collaboration with the client, the carriers, and all partners—as well as proactive communication and daily status reports—all cables were delivered safely and on schedule,” Han added.
The operation underscores Deugro’s expertise in managing complex logistics for major infrastructure projects, particularly in the energy transition space. With more than 70 offices across 40 countries, Deugro continues to play a pivotal role in supporting global low-carbon initiatives.
