New Joint Venture to Focus on Subsea Power Cable Installation
Global Marine Systems and Visser & Smit Marine Contracting, with over two centuries of combined experience in the installation and maintenance of all types of subsea cables, today announced the launch of their new company, Seabed Power. Focusing on the growing demand for subsea power cable installation in and around the UK and Europe, Seabed Power will install and maintain power cables from landfall to landfall or from landfall to offshore structures for the power and offshore renewable energy markets.
With an extensive fleet of vessels, ROVs and related equipment, Seabed Power will offer a complete ‘grid to turbine’ solution, without the need for subcontractors. On land, Seabed Power has extensive experience in terrestrial installation and trenchless construction techniques, including through densely populated areas where no other techniques are practical, and at the land/sea margin, using specialist Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) methods.
“The role of cable installation and maintenance is fundamental to the success of any offshore windfarm or interconnector project,” said Kim Wichmann-Hansen, CEO of Seabed Power. “From detailed route survey, seabed analysis, and permitting, to the proper cable installation and eventual maintenance, the need for experienced, proven expertise in this very specialised work is crucial to completing a project properly. Seabed Power has the people and the experience to successfully, and profitably, grow as the industry expands.”
“As a joint venture between two premier marine engineering companies, Seabed Power has been formed in the right place at the right time,” said Leo van Vliet, CEO of Visser & Smit Marine Contracting. “Visser & Smit Marine Contracting’s ultimate parent company, Royal Volker Wessels Stevin, is a leading construction company in Holland. Global Marine Systems Ltd. is the largest independent provider of subsea cable installation and maintenance in the world. Combined, we believe we are well positioned to succeed in this unique and important market.”
“We have been involved with offshore wind for many years, with an excellent project track record with our longtime partner Visser & Smit Marine Contracting,” commented Gabriel Ruhan, CEO of Global Marine Systems. “Due to the growth of the market, and the direct success of our employees, we are currently working on a number of important projects such as Horns Rev II, Alpha Ventus, Sherringham Shoal, Gjoa, NordE & BritNed and felt that now was the ideal time to launch this company.” Seabed Power is headquartered in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with offices in Chelmsford, UK.
