South Korean subsea cable specialist LS Marine Solutions has signed a construction contract with Turkish shipbuilder Tersan Shipyard for a new state-of-the-art vessel designed for laying high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cables.
According to the company, the vessel will become the largest cable-layer in Asia and will rank among the top five globally in its class, boasting a 13,000-ton cable carrying capacity. It is designed to install both HVDC and fiber optic cables, including deployment in deepwater environments and over long distances.
The vessel will feature advanced systems to minimize signal loss and ensure stable connectivity across extended cable routes. Once completed, it will be the only vessel of its kind in South Korea.
Construction is expected to take approximately two years, with the vessel set to enter service in the first half of 2028.
LS Marine Solutions plans to deploy the vessel in major domestic projects — including the HVDC transmission backbone along South Korea’s west coast — as well as in the growing number of offshore wind and long-distance cable-laying projects in Europe and North America.
While financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, the company previously announced in late May that it had allocated KRW 345.8 billion (approximately USD 255.7 million) for the vessel.
LS Marine Solutions noted that globally, there are only about 20 cable-laying vessels with similar capabilities, most of which are owned by European companies. The new vessel is expected to give South Korea a strategic edge and strengthen its position in the global subsea cable market.
