Orange Marine’s next-generation Alpha ROV will support Global Marine’s new hybrid-powered cable maintenance vessel
Global Marine and Orange Marine have announced a new collaboration for the supply of a next-generation Alpha Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), designed and manufactured by Orange Marine in France.
The Alpha ROV will be deployed aboard Global Marine’s next-generation cable maintenance vessel, currently under construction at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka and scheduled for delivery in Q4 2029.
This collaboration brings together two longstanding players in the global submarine cable industry and combines Global Marine’s extensive experience in subsea cable maintenance with Orange Marine’s expertise in designing and manufacturing specialised subsea vehicles.
The Alpha series is Orange Marine’s latest generation of ROV, specifically developed to meet the demanding needs of telecommunications and power subsea cables operations. Designed and built by Orange Marine’s Submarine Vehicles department in France, these ROVs are equipped with 450 kW of installed power, including 300 kW dedicated to jetting.
Alpha ROVs can operate at depths of up to 3,000 metres and perform cable burial operations down to 3 metres, depending on seabed conditions. Their tracked configuration can be adapted to a free-swimming mode, providing greater operational flexibility according to mission requirements.
The vehicle can perform a wide range of subsea operations including cable detection, inspection and survey, cutting and gripping, burial and reburial. The ROV supplied to Global Marine will be customised to meet the specific operational requirements of its future vessel.
The new Remotely Operated Vehicle will be deployed aboard Global Marine’s next-generation cable maintenance vessel, currently under construction at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka and scheduled for delivery in Q4 2029. Designed specifically for fibre-optic submarine cable repair operations, the hybrid-powered vessel represents a significant investment in fleet renewal and future capability. Combined with Orange Marine’s Alpha ROV, it will provide Global Marine with advanced capabilities for subsea cable inspection, maintenance, protection and repair operations, further enhancing its ability to support long-term maintenance agreements for many of the world’s leading cable owners and capitalise on opportunities in the rapidly growing subsea cable market.
As the industry enters a period of sustained growth and increasing environmental expectations, investing in modern, fuel-efficient assets ensures Global Marine remains competitive, resilient and well positioned to meet the evolving needs of customers and the critical infrastructure they depend on.
Simon Hibberd, Chief Executive Officer of Global Marine Group, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our operational capabilities through the addition of the Alpha ROV, while continuing our highly valued partnership with Orange Marine. A trusted partner for many years, Orange Marine shares our commitment to operational excellence and innovation, and we are proud to build on this successful relationship as we invest in the future of our subsea operations. The Alpha ROV represents an important enhancement to our capabilities, helping us continue to deliver the exceptional levels of service our customers expect.
The Alpha ROV enhances our ability to perform safe, precise and efficient subsea operations worldwide, while reinforcing our position at the forefront of the industry. It also marks another important milestone in our long-term investment and fleet renewal strategy, underlining our confidence in the future of global subsea infrastructure.
We look forward to deploying the Alpha ROV aboard our new cable maintenance vessel in 2029 and to further building on our successful collaboration with Orange Marine as we continue to provide world-class maintenance and repair solutions.”
Didier Dillard, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Marine, said: “We are particularly proud that Global Marine has selected our Alpha technology for its next-generation cable maintenance vessel. This collaboration recognises the expertise developed by our teams in Provence in designing and manufacturing highly specialised subsea vehicles.
Beyond our activities as a cable ship operator, Orange Marine has developed unique engineering and industrial capabilities over several decades in the design and manufacture of specialised subsea vehicles. We already support several leading players in the submarine cable industry, providing them not only with subsea vehicles, but also with long-term maintenance support and, in some cases, dedicated operational teams. Global Marine’s decision to select Alpha further demonstrates our ability to make this expertise and comprehensive range of services available to the international submarine cable industry.”
