Orange Marine Orders Two More Cable Laying and Repair Vessels From Vard

Why It Matters

The contract strengthens Orange Marine's capacity to maintain critical submarine telecom networks while cementing VARD’s leadership in the niche cable‑layer market and supporting Sri Lankan shipbuilding capabilities.

Key Takeaways

• VARD receives two VARD 9 03 cable vessels from Orange Marine
• Built at Colombo Dockyard, third and fourth VARD vessels
• Design mirrors CS Sophie Germain, emphasizing efficiency and sea‑keeping
• VARD now has nine cable‑laying designs, five vessels under construction
• Order deepens partnership since 2012, boosting telecom cable capacity

Pulse Analysis

The global demand for high‑capacity submarine fiber‑optic cables is accelerating as data traffic surges, prompting operators to expand both new‑lay and maintenance fleets. VARD, part of Italy’s Fincantieri Group, has positioned itself as a specialist supplier of purpose‑built cable vessels, a niche that few shipyards can serve efficiently. By delivering vessels that combine advanced sea‑keeping with low‑fuel propulsion, VARD helps operators reduce operational costs and improve uptime, critical factors for carriers competing in a tightly regulated market.

The VARD 9 03 platform, exemplified by the recently delivered CS Sophie Germain, integrates dynamic positioning, automated cable handling systems and a hull form optimized for rough seas. Constructing the new vessels at Colombo Dockyard leverages the yard’s proven experience with previous VARD projects, such as KDDI Cable Infinity, while providing cost‑effective labor and strategic proximity to key Asian cable routes. This collaboration illustrates how European design expertise can be paired with South Asian manufacturing to meet tight delivery schedules and budget constraints.

For Orange Marine, a subsidiary of the Orange Group, the additional ships expand its ability to service the expanding European and African submarine cable networks, including emerging hybrid power‑telecom lines. The order reinforces a partnership that dates back to 2012, signaling confidence in VARD’s design reliability and Colombo Dockyard’s build quality. As telecom operators invest heavily in resilient, high‑bandwidth infrastructure, the availability of modern, efficient cable‑laying vessels will be a decisive competitive advantage, and VARD is poised to capture a growing share of this specialized market.