Cable-laying vessels

Specialist DP2 / DP3 vessels installing + repairing submarine power cables (offshore wind, interconnectors) and telecommunications cables (transatlantic + intra-Asia routes).

Work environment

Long campaigns — a single cable installation may run 30–90 days continuous DP operations. Hotel-class accommodation. Specialist crew + cable engineers + ROV pilots. Major operators: Subsea7, Saipem, Prysmian, Nexans, NKT, SubCom, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Boskalis Cable Solutions. The interconnector + offshore-wind cable boom is driving sustained 2024–2030 demand.

Common ranks onboard

• master
• chief officer
• second officer
• chief engineer
• second engineer
• eto
• dpo
• able seafarer deck
• motorman

Typical certificates

• BST
• PSCRB
• AFF
• MFA
• DPO (DP2 minimum; DP3 for some operations)
• BOSIET / FOET (offshore industry standard)
• HV (high-voltage cable handling)

Generate a tailored list with the STCW certificate checker.

Safety risks

• Cable-machinery snap-back (cable engine, tensioner, capstan)
• DP failure during precision-laying
• ROV launch + recovery operations
• Cable-cutting + jointing (high-voltage exposure)

Last verified 14 days ago