Maersk Connector – Offshore Supply Vessel and Cable Layer

 Maersk Connector is a multipurpose vessel combining the functions of an offshore supply ship with a cable layer. Unusually, she is bottom strengthened to go aground while fully loaded thanks to a high-capacity ballast system and seven-point mooring system which enables her to execute a controlled grounding. In so doing, she can independently operate at a shallow draft in laying cables close to shore and, if necessary, safely ground.

Able to lay 2 cables simultaneously, the vessel is designed to install large volumes of HVAC and HVAC power cables. Her first major cable lay project was from Belgium to the UK in 2018

Built by Damen Shipyards, Galati, Romania in 2016

Owned and operated by Maersk Supply Service

Chartered by DeepOcean

LOA 138.4m

Beam 27.5m

GRT 10,510 tons

Propulsion 14,080 BHP servicing 2 x Azipod main propellors

Bollard pull 71 tonnes

Helideck 21m diameter, max capacity 12 tonnes

Maximum crew capacity 90

 

Headquartered in Lyngby, Denmark, Maersk Supply Service provides offshore marine services for oil, gas and offshore wind customers. The company owns more than 30 vessels and has more than 1,000 employees both onshore and offshore.

 
Safely aground – Courtesy: Damen

Established in 2011 and based in Oslo, Norway, charterer DeepOcean describes itself as a technology-driven, independent solution provider offering companies within oil and gas, offshore renewables, deep sea minerals, and other non-energy niches a full range of services from surveys, engineering, project management, and installation to maintenance and recycling. The company has over 1200 staff.

Maersk Supply Service is also partnering with Louisiana-based Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) for the construction of vessels as part of Maersk’s feeder ship solution to offshore wind installations. This will include two tugs and two barges to be built for ECO by Bollinger Shipyards, Louisiana, in support of the installation system.

Maersk Supply Service has a large wind turbine installation vessel on order with Seatrim, Singapore (former Sembcorp Marine) for delivery in 2025. The intention is for the Norwegian registered vessel to be positioned on site and be fed by barges operating from a staging area at the nominated wind port. The barges and tugs will be registered in the U.S. to meet Jones Act requirements.