UK firm’s subsea technology ordered for Japanese offshore wind

January 9, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Japanese submarine cable installation specialist SEKIKAIJI Industry has purchased a trencher and advanced cable tracker technology from the UK’s subsea technology and services provider SMD, which will be used for the offshore wind market in Japan.

The contract includes SMD’s high-power jet trencher with a dedicated high sea state launch and recovery system (LARS) and the SMD Artemis cable and pipeline tracker, set to be delivered in spring 2026.

Using electromagnetic field technology, SMD Artemis locates cables during the construction phase of a wind farm, where there is no existing power or injected tone, and enables cable detection during multipass burial, SMD said.

“This is a major milestone for us, strengthening our ability to meet the demands for larger power cables, deeper burial depths, and faster project timescales,” said Masaru Seki, President of SEKIKAIJI.

“Having operated in Japanese waters for over half a century, we are committed to remaining one of the country’s leading submarine cable burial contractors. This means supporting the development of the emerging offshore renewable market, where safe and accurate cable burial is essential. We look forward to using the SMD QTrencher vehicle and SMD Artemis to support our clients with their complex subsea operations.”

SMD in the summer appointed a new chief executive officer (CEO), after the previous one spent a decade in the role. The new CEO Kenny Liu succeeded Julian Zhu, who led the establishment of SMD’s innovation division and oversaw the expansion of UK facilities.