Ship & Boat BuildingPipe/Cable layingVARD Delivers Hybrid Cable Laying Vessel 'Discovery' to Toyo Construction

VARD Delivers Hybrid Cable Laying Vessel ‘Discovery’ to Toyo Construction

New hybrid construction and cable laying vessel ‘Discovery’ strengthens Toyo Construction’s capacity for offshore construction and subsea cable installation.

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has delivered the hybrid construction and cable laying vessel Discovery to Toyo Construction Co., Ltd., further strengthening its track record in delivering advanced, low-emission vessels for complex offshore construction and subsea cable installation projects.

The delivery took place at Vard Langsten Norway, 26th June with attendance by representatives of both Toyo Construction and the Vard Group, celebrating the vessel’s completion and its official handover.

This was the first vessel the leading Japanese construction company has ordered from VARD, and the first vessel VARD has delivered to the Japanese windfarm market.

Commenting on the delivery of the new vessel, Toyo’s Representative Director and President Mr. Tatsuyoshi Nakamura said, “We are honored to celebrate this milestone in partnership with VARD and the many stakeholders who have contributed to making this vessel a reality. As we prepare for full-scale operations in Japan, we remain dedicated to building long-term value for our clients, partners, and the communities we serve.”

The vessel is outfitted commissioned and delivered on time from Vard Langsten while the hull is built at Vard Shipyards Romania – Tulcea.

Chairman in Vard Group Alberto Maestrini who also attended the ceremony said, “VARD is proud to deliver this complex and modern vessel to Toyo Construction. She is truly a product of a strong collaboration with Toyo Construction, Class NK and Vard Group with its great skills in in engineering flexibility and competences to reach full adherence to Japanese class and flag, working together as OneTeam. She will be the largest purpose-built vessel for cable lay in Japan with its dual capability. I would like to extend my gratitude to all men and women putting a lot of effort into to finalizing this innovative project and congratulate Toyo Construction on their new vessel.”

The tailor-made vessel is 151m long and has a beam of 28m with a cable carrying capacity of 9000 tons. In addition to being used as a self-propelled cable-laying vessel, the vessel has a high-performance crane and a large deck area, making it suitable for multi-purpose applications such as ground-based foundation work, floating offshore wind mooring work, and marine resource-related projects. The vessel will also have a 4-point mooring system and helideck installed. 

The vessel is equipped with a removable cable lay system and 2 offshore cranes that makes her adaptable to a variety of offshore works.

The vessel is developed with the latest sustainable technologies to reduce the carbon footprint during operations and port mooring. It will have a large battery pack, a shore supply connection, and a state-of-the-art energy management system. This sustainable set-up will result in higher energy efficiency, reducing CO2, NOx, and SOx emissions. 

The hybrid power cable lay, and construction vessel will be of VARD 9 15 design, a design especially developed for the need of the customer to cater for the growing Japanese offshore windfarm market, as well as to operate worldwide. It will have an optimal hull design to suit the natural and construction conditions in Japan, allowing it to be used in both shallow waters and deep waters for floating offshore wind power generation and DC power transmission projects. She will be able to carry out construction work at a high rate of operation in a wide range of ocean areas. 

The Group’s high technology subsidiary Vard Electro is also involved in the project through deliveries of SeaQ equipment and solutions, including SeaQ Power with energy storage systems, switchboards, and shore connection,

When it comes to communication, Vard Electro has delivered the network, entertainment – and communication systems on board.

Vard Interiors delivered the modern Interior solutions and green HVAC R system aiming to create a good living and working environment onboard the vessel.

Main Specifications

Gross tonnage: 18,985 tons | Speed: 12 knots | Total power: 12,800 kW | Length: 150.1 m | Breadth:
28 m | Depth: 12.2 m | Maximum draft: 7.0 m | Carousel (above deck) 4000 t | Carousel (below deck)
5000 t | Crane (main) 400 t AHC crane | Crane (sub) 100 t AHC crane | DPS: Class 2 | Classification:
Class NK | Accommodation: 90 persons (all single cabins) | Other equipment: helideck, 4-point
mooring system, hybrid system battery 2,000 kWh

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