The DP2 cable installation vessel Maersk Connector, built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania, was handed over to its owner Maersk Supply Service on February 4, 2016.

The latest addition to the 50-plus strong Maersk offshore support vessel fleet, Maersk Connector is going directly on a long-term charter for subsea services provider DeepOcean. Based on Damen’s DOC 8500 platform, the vessel has been customised to meet the challenges of reducing offshore renewables costs.

“Maersk Connector is fine-tuned around DeepOcean’s 20 years’ experience of installing and trenching more than 1,000 kilometres of power cable and backed up with Maersk Supply Service’s long pedigree of superior marine operations,” DeepOcean Commercial Director, Pierre Boyde, said.

So far the vessel has been contracted to undertake marine works for three DeepOcean contracts: the Walney Extension Project, the Nemo Link® interconnector and the Bligh Bank Phase II Offshore Wind Farm.

Maersk Connector is the second of a new generation of cable-laying vessels based on Damen Offshore Carrier (DOC) platform.

Featuring a combination of new survey, trenching and installation equipment, the DOC 8500 is 138 metres long and has a beam of 27.5 metres.