NKT's next-generation cable-laying vessel NKT Eleonora has arrived in Norway for the final phase of outfitting and commissioning at the Vard Brattvaag shipyard.
The vessel previously departed Vard Shipyards Romania in Tulcea, where its hull and initial construction were completed. Following final outfitting, testing and commissioning in Norway, delivery is scheduled for the first or second quarter of 2027.
With a length of approximately 176.5 metres and a beam of 32 metres, NKT Eleonora will become one of the world's most capable vessels dedicated to the installation of high-voltage subsea power cables.
One of its most significant features is its enormous cable capacity. The vessel will be equipped with three separate turntables capable of carrying a combined 23,000 tonnes of power cable.
This represents roughly twice the cable capacity of NKT's existing NKT Victoria, which has two turntables with a combined capacity of around 11,000 tonnes.
The increased capacity will allow NKT Eleonora to transport and install longer and heavier high-voltage cable systems, reducing the need for additional loading operations during major offshore projects.
The vessel will also be capable of laying three power cables, supporting increasingly complex offshore transmission projects, including large-scale 525 kV HVDC connections.
NKT Eleonora will feature Wärtsilä 32 dual-fuel methanol engines and will be capable of operating on methanol as well as HVO or marine diesel oil. The configuration is intended to reduce the environmental footprint of offshore cable installation operations.
The vessel's electrical system will be built around ABB's Onboard DC Grid power distribution technology, while ABB will also provide electrical propulsion equipment. NOV REMACUT is supplying the cable-laying system, cranes and mission equipment required for offshore operations.
Designed by Norwegian company Salt Ship Design, NKT Eleonora will also feature DP3 dynamic positioning, allowing the vessel to maintain extremely precise positioning during complex subsea cable installation.
A large range of subsea tools will support the installation, maintenance and servicing of offshore power cables, while an enclosed cable-handling deck will help protect both crew and equipment during operations in harsh weather conditions.
Construction of NKT Eleonora is taking place alongside a major expansion of NKT's high-voltage cable manufacturing facility in Karlskrona, Sweden. The project includes a new production facility designed to significantly increase the company's manufacturing capacity for offshore high-voltage cables.
Both the new Karlskrona production capacity and NKT Eleonora are expected to become operational in 2027.
Together, the projects will significantly expand NKT's ability to manufacture, transport and install increasingly large subsea cable systems as demand for offshore wind connections and international high-voltage power links continues to grow.
