New cable laying vessel Isaac Newton on the way to its first job

Uljanik Brodogradiliste, in Pula, Croatia, has officially handed over the new cable laying vessel, Issac Newton, to the Belgian Jan De Nul Group.

The vessel is set to sail to Norway to pick up the cables for its first job, these cables will then be transported to and installed in the Middle East.

Wouter Vermeersch, manager of offshore cables, said: “These unique features will enable us to instal cables more efficiently in longer lengths with less offshore joints and more economically since less vessel trips will be required.

He continued: “This is already proven by the vessel’s first job, whereby an 89km long cable and weight of 7,300 tonnes will be loaded, transported and installed in one single length. A second cable weighing around 1,200 tonnes will be taken within the same trip using the under deck carousel.”

Isaac Newton is said to be the largest cable laying vessel of its kind, it is capable of transporting and installing over 10,000 tonnes of cable per single trip.

The largest out of two carousels on board has the ability to carry up to 7,400 tonnes.

Jan De Nul Group work within dredging activities and specialised services for the installation of subsea structures for oil, gas and renewable energy industries. The vessel is the latest addition to Jan De Nul Group’s fleet.

Among the fleet is Vidar, an offshore jack-up crane vessel, J.F.J De Nul, a powerful cutter suction dredger and Joseph Plateau, a rock installation vessel.