DeepOcean bags cable contract for 1-GW link between UK, Belgium

Dutch subsea services provider DeepOcean Group Holding BV said Monday it had been contracted to install the 400-kV HVDC XLPE bundled cables for the 1-GW Nemo subsea link between the UK and Belgium.

As part of the deal with Japan’s J-Power Systems Corp, the company’s unit DeepOcean 1 UK Ltd will be in charge of all marine works for the interconnector.

In detail, the job covers the installation, trenching and protection of the bundled cable system, which will stretch from Kent and Zeebrugge, as well as route surveys and engineering, out of service cable clearance, pre-sweeping in sandwave areas and crossings construction among other services.

DeepOcean will start working on the project next year and expects to complete it in 2018.

It will use its new build vessel Maersk Connector along with its T3200 mechanical and jetting trencher for the construction phase, whilst its T2 tracked mechanical and jetting vehicle will protect the cables.

UK’s National Grid (LON:NG) and Belgian national transmission system operator Elia are the owners of the Nemo Link joint venture (JV), which will help boost energy security for both countries and support renewables integration. The interconnector will run 140 km (87 miles) and will be able to provide enough power to meet the annual needs of roughly 500,000 homes.

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