Nexans breaks world record again by installing subsea cable 3,000 meters under water

March 10, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

French cable systems designer and manufacturer Nexans has set a new world record by installing a 525 kV mass-impregnated (MI) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable at a water depth of 3,000 meters.

To remind, in December 2025, Nexans reported that it had set a world record in the subsea cable industry by installing a 500 kV HVDC power cable at a depth of 2,150 meters as part of the Tyrrhenian Link, described as one of Italy’s most significant electrical infrastructures.

The French firm reported today, March 10, that its team had again pushed back the boundaries of technology by setting a new record with the installation and testing of a 525 kV MI HVDC subsea cable technology at a depth of 3,000 meters in a designated offshore area west of Sicily, Italy.

“To put that into perspective, that is roughly seven Empire State Buildings, stacked underwater,” Nexans said.

The cable was tested at 30% above industry standards to ensure maximum reliability in the most extreme conditions, the company reported.