Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), the leader of the Shipbuilding Industry in Sri Lanka and having carved out a name as the most preferred Cable Laying Vessel building destination shipyards in the world, secured another repeat vessels contract to build two Cable Laying and Repair Vessels for the prestigious cable ship operator, Orange Marine. Incidentally this is the largest shipbuilding contract CDPLC has ever signed in the history of the Company.
Group Photo after signing of the historical Shipbuilding Contract (from left to right): Mr. Matthieu John Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of France, Mr. Philippe Fouet Economic Counsellor Embassy of France, Mr. Emmanuel Decugis Ships Technical Director/ Med Marine Base Director Orange Marine, Mr. Didier Dillard President/CEO Orange Marine, HE Remi Lambert Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka, Mr. Thimira S. Godakumbura Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Gihan Ravinatha Director/CFO, Mr. Sanjeewa Jayathilake AGM (Projects Development), Mr. Prince Lye Head of Shipbuilding Marketing all from Colombo Dockyard PLC
(Image of Sophie Germain, previously built CRV by Colombo Dockyard to Orange Marine delivered in July 2023)
Orange Marine is a French company specializing in the field of submarine telecommunications, from the initial design, engineering, to installation of intercontinental and regional links, and maintenance of existing cables. The Orange Marine's fleet is one of the most experienced in the world and represents 12% of the world cableships fleet.
The Contract signing was held in Colombo recently and Mr. Didier Dillard President/CEO of Orange Marine signed the contracts in the presence of Mr. Emmanuel Décugis Ships Technical Director -- Med Marine Base Director. Also His Excellency Mr. Rémi Lambert Ambassador, Mr. Matthieu John Deputy Head of Mission, and Mr. Philippe Fouet, Economic Counsellor from the Embassy of France were present to give their blessings to the project.
Mr. Thimira S. Godakumbura MD/CEO signed the Contracts on behalf of the CDPLC in the presence of Mr. Gihan Ravinatha Director/ CFO and the senior management team of Colombo Dockyard.
The proposed two vessels shall be ultra-modern, high technology vessels similar to the Sophie Germain built and delivered by CDPLC back in July 2023. These vessels are specially designed and equipped for sub-sea cable lay and repair operation duties with a high focus on good sea keeping qualities, excellent station keeping performance and low fuel consumption.
The vessels have been designed by Vard Design AS of Norway and an optimized hull form and bow shape developed by Vard has been incorporated in the design, enabling the vessel to achieve high speeds and minimize its carbon footprints, to be a highly eco-friendly vessel.
These vessels shall be built to Bureau Veritas classification society standards and shall meet the regulatory requirements of the French Flag Authority. The vessels environmental friendliness with focus on low fuel consumption shall be in accordance with BV CLEANSHIP requirements.
The vessel's primary activities shall be to carry out cable operations, including laying, repair and ROV inspection. The vessel is 100m in length with a beam of 18.8m and a Depth of 7.15m and shall have a deadweight capacity of 1800DWT. The vessel can achieve an impressive speed of 14.5 knots and has accommodation facilities for 76 persons. The vessel has three cable tanks to carry fiber optic cables.
The vessel shall be fitted out with a diesel-electric propulsion plant. The power plant shall consist of four generator sets for electrical propulsion power. The vessels propulsion shall be by two main Azipod propellers in the aft and two tunnel thrusters in the forward and the system will be run and monitored by Integrated Automation System and Power Management System.
It will be worth recording that in 2019, CDPLC successfully built and delivered a 113m Cable Laying Vessel 'KDDI Cable Infinity' to Japan and in 2023 the 100m Cable Laying and Repair Vessel 'Sophie Germain' to France. Now CDPLC is carving out a name for itself as a reputed, reliable and trustworthy Shipbuilder for Cable Laying and Repair Vessel in the world.
With this it marks Colombo Dockyards stamping of presence into the prestigious European market establishing Colombo as a preferred Shipbuilding destination for European Ship Owners.
As the leader of Shipbuilding Industry in Sri Lanka, CDPLC continuously proves its excellence through successful securing and execution of shipbuilding projects worldwide and is the front runner of Sri Lankan industrialization.
CDPLC contributes heavily to the National Export earnings from the Shipbuilding sector with much needed foreign currency to the Sri Lankan economy and plays a leading role of uplifting & driving the maritime development strategy of Sri Lanka.