Van Oord’s new cable-laying vessel Calypso has entered service and started installing cables on its first offshore wind project, the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm in the UK, owned by RWE, the company said in a news release.
This marks the debut of Van Oord’s second cable-laying vessel, following the Nexus. The custom-built Calypso is designed for inter-array grid and export cable installation, including high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. It has two cable carousels with a total capacity of 8,000 tonnes and can lay two HVDC cables simultaneously.
The vessel incorporates sustainable technologies such as biofuel capability, hybrid engines ready for e-fuels, a large battery pack, shore power connection, and an advanced energy management system. According to Arnoud Kuis, Managing Director Offshore Energy at Van Oord, the vessel’s entry into operation strengthens the company’s installation fleet and supports its focus on sustainable technology and flexibility for offshore projects.
RWE contracted Van Oord for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of monopile foundations and array cables. The Calypso is tasked with installing about 360 kilometres of inter-array cables.
The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, located on Dogger Bank in the central North Sea about 195 kilometres from the UK’s northeast coast, will have a capacity of 1.4 GW and is expected to supply electricity to 1.2 million homes once operational in 2026.
Van Oord is a Dutch family-owned international marine contractor headquartered in Rotterdam. It operates in dredging, marine engineering, and offshore energy infrastructure, including offshore wind farms and subsea cable installation. The company provides engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) services for maritime and renewable energy projects worldwide.
RWE AG is a German multinational energy company based in Essen. It operates as one of Europe’s largest electricity producers and is active in renewable energy generation, including wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. The company develops, owns, and operates renewable energy assets and supplies energy to industrial and retail customers in multiple countries.
