Colombo Dockyard, Sri Lanka’s leading shipbuilding and repair yard, has secured a new contract from France-based Orange Marine, a company specializing in the installation and maintenance of subsea communication cables.
The agreement, signed last week, marks a significant step forward in the partnership between the two companies and further enhances Colombo Dockyard’s reputation among major European shipowners.
⚓️ Two New Cable-Laying Vessels for Orange Marine
Under the new contract, Colombo Dockyard will construct two state-of-the-art cable-laying vessels designed primarily for subsea cable maintenance and installation, with the capability to deploy connecting segments up to 1,000 kilometers long.
The order is part of Orange Marine’s fleet renewal program. The new vessels will replace two of the company’s oldest cable ships — the 42-year-old Léon Thévenin (based in South Africa) and the 38-year-old Antonio Meucci (based in Italy).
Delivery of the new vessels is expected by 2029.
Once completed, Orange Marine’s fleet will consist of four cable-laying vessels operating in the Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, North and Indian Oceans, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea.
“As a global leader in digital infrastructure, Orange operates over 450,000 kilometers of subsea cables connecting every continent. These strategic fleet investments are vital for ensuring the resilience and security of the global internet,” said Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale.
🛠 Vessel Specifications and Strategic Significance
The new vessels will share similar specifications with the Sophie Germain, a cable-laying and repair vessel delivered by Colombo Dockyard to Orange Marine in 2023 — the first of its kind built by the yard for a European client.
Each vessel will feature:
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Length: 100 meters
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Beam: 18.8 meters
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Draft: 7.5 meters
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Deadweight: 1,800 DWT
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Speed: 14.5 knots
The project underscores Orange Marine’s long-term commitment to Colombo Dockyard and strengthens the shipyard’s position as a trusted partner for high-value specialized vessels.
Meanwhile, India’s state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is in the process of acquiring Colombo Dockyard, a move expected to expand the yard’s capabilities into naval shipbuilding, Mazagon’s primary area of expertise.
As Sri Lanka’s largest shipbuilding and repair facility, Colombo Dockyard continues to grow its global client base. Its current order book is estimated at around USD 300 million, reflecting the company’s increasing role in international shipbuilding markets.
