Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that it has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the basic design of specialised vessels designed for subsea power cable jointing and burial.
MOL is working with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line). The project, subsidised by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), aims to develop fundamental technologies for long-distance subsea DC power transmission, including a next-generation cable-laying vessel.
To transmit electricity from wind power generation sites, such as those in Hokkaido, to major consumption centers, power transmission infrastructure must be strengthened. Long-distance subsea DC transmission is considered a promising solution for efficiently transporting large volumes of electricity and is expected to play a critical role in both power grid enhancement and offshore wind power development.
Within the project, MOL is responsible for developing vessel technologies related to subsea cable jointing and burial. The ClassNK AiP confirms the feasibility of the vessel’s basic design from a classification perspective and represents a key milestone toward detailed engineering and future construction.
Offshore wind is identified as a strategic growth area under the MOL Group’s “BLUE ACTION 2035” management plan. By expanding its portfolio of specialised vessels for subsea power cable installation, MOL aims to support offshore wind deployment, power grid modernisation, and broader decarbonisation efforts.
