Marine engineering company MAATS Tech has signed a contract with Colombo Dockyard to design and install a 2000te carousel on a newbuild vessel for Japanese cable installer Kokusai Cable Ship (KCS).

The vessel of VARD 9 01 design is tailor-made for installation and repair of subsea telecom cables.

The total cable carrying capacity is 5000 tons. The outfitting also comprises a dual cable lay system, A-frame, hydro plough and trenching ROV.

MAATS said it worked closely with Vard, Colombo Dockyard and KCS during the design phase to achieve the required capability based on the future subsea power cable market in Asia.

The keel laying ceremony for the vessel was held in Colombo in September 2017. It is built in accordance with ClassNK and Japanese flag regulations as well as all relevant international safety and environmental standards.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2019.