VARD has announced that France’s Orange Marine has ordered two additional vessels based on the VARD 9 03 design, with construction set to take place at Colombo Dockyard. The new order expands Orange Marine’s cable repair fleet and builds on a long-standing collaboration between the companies.
The vessels will follow the same design as the cable layer CS Sophie Germain, which was delivered by Colombo Dockyard in July 2023. The partnership between VARD and Orange Marine dates back to 2012, when VARD was selected to design and build the VARD 9 01 cable laying and repair vessel Pierre de Fermat. As part of the Fincantieri Group, VARD has continued to strengthen its relationship with Colombo Dockyard, with the newbuilds marking the third and fourth VARD-designed cable layers constructed at the yard.
The VARD 9 03 design has been developed specifically for the maintenance of submarine fiber optic telecommunications cables. The vessels are tailored to Orange Marine’s operational requirements, with a focus on strong sea-keeping capabilities, fuel efficiency and optimized onboard arrangements, making them well suited to specialized cable repair operations.
VARD has been steadily expanding its portfolio in the cable laying and repair segment, working with major industry players and building in-house expertise. To date, the company has designed and or built nine cable laying vessels and now has five units under construction, reinforcing its position as an experienced designer in this niche market.
Kjell Morten Urke, General Manager for Vard Design, said the latest order reflects the strength of the collaboration between Orange Marine, Colombo Dockyard and VARD. He highlighted the company’s growing portfolio in the fiber optic cable vessel segment and noted that ongoing cooperation with shipowners and operators remains key to developing efficient and future-ready vessel solutions.
