Japanese long-distance cable-laying vessel receives general design approval

March 4, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Japanese classification society ClassNK has issued its General Design Approval (GDA) for a cable-laying vessel (CLV) developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), verifying the vessel’s compliance with relevant rules at the detailed design level.

NYK reported that it had, on February 13, completed the basic design of the long-distance CLV, being developed for the construction of a long-distance subsea direct current (DC) transmission network off Japan.

The company was subcontracted in 2022 by Sumitomo Electric to conduct an initial conceptual design of a self-propelled CLV suitable for Japan’s conditions regarding ‘Research and Development of a Multi-purpose and Multi-terminal HIGH Voltage Direct Current Transmission System (RIGHT Project),’ subsidized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

The following year, NEDO selected the Japanese shipping player as part of a four-company consortium with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) for a public solicitation regarding the development of construction methods for the installation of a cable protecting system, and the development of new cable-laying vessels for the same project.

As a result, NYK began designing the self-propelled cable-laying vessel in cooperation with Sumitomo Electric.

In 2024, ClassNK gave its approval in principle (AiP) for the design concept of the cable layer.

With the completion of the basic design and receipt of ClassNK’s GDA, NYK said it had achieved its initial objectives within the NEDO-supported project.