Orange Marine, the Orange Group subsidiary specialising in the deployment and maintenance of submarine telecommunications cables, has announced plans to construct two new maintenance cable ships designed specifically for maintaining submarine cables. to reinforce the resilience and operational capability of the submarine cable networks serving Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
With these two new ships, the Orange group will have the most advanced and modern maintenance fleet in the world. In total, four ships will operate in the Atlantic, the English Channel, the North Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea, ensuring the continuity and security of essential submarine cable networks across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, the Group owns two ships specialised in cable laying and one reconnaissance ship (marine survey) through Orange Marine and its Italian subsidiary Elettra TLC.
“As a leader in global digital infrastructure, Orange manages over 450,000 km of undersea cables connecting all continents. This strategic investment in our fleet of cable ships will be a key to ensuring the resilience and security of the global Internet. It demonstrates our confidence in Orange Marine’s prospects and the expertise of its teams,” said Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale.
These sister ships of the iconic Sophie Germain launched in 2023 will mainly be dedicated to submarine cable maintenance. They will also be capable of laying connecting segments up to 1,000 kilometers long. These two new ships will replace the Léon Thévenin (1983, based in South Africa) and the Antonio Meucci (1987, based in Italy), currently responsible for cable maintenance in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Red Sea.
The construction of these new ships has been awarded to the Sri Lankan shipyard Colombo Dockyard, which has an established reputation for its expertise and has already delivered the Sophie Germain. This choice aligns with a logic of industrial excellence and international collaboration, while meeting the highest standards of the sector. Their delivery is expected in 2028 and 2029.
These new ships will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 20% compared to current vessels:
- A streamlined hull, optimized for repairs and reducing fuel consumption by 25%
- A hybrid system combining diesel and electric power. Electricity can be produced onboard, and stored through backup batteries
- Azipod main thrusters for increased maneuverability and reliability
- The ability to connect to land-based electrical grids at port, thereby limiting the carbon footprint
The ships will also be equipped with a remotely operated underwater robot (ROV) that is stored in an onboard hangar. The ROV, designed and manufactured by Orange Marine, will enable safe cutting, inspection and burial of cables.
Didier Dillard, President of Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc: “The aging of the cable ship fleet is a major concern for all players in the submarine cable industry. Building these new ships will enable Orange Marine and Elettra to have the most modern fleet in the world, serving all our clients globally, with an optimised environmental footprint.”
