Orange Marine Modernizes Its Fleet Of Cable Ships To Secure Digital  Infrastructure In Europe, Africa And The Middle East 

By Francois Giudice, Bureau Chief, France

A subsidiary of Orange specializing in submarine cable work, Orange Marine has announced  the construction of two new cable ships to strengthen the resilience of submarine cable  networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

With these two new ships, the Orange group will have the most advanced and modern  maintenance fleet in the world. In total, four ships will operate in the Atlantic, the English  Channel, the North Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea, ensuring  the continuity and security of essential submarine cable networks across Europe, the  Middle East and Africa. Additionally, the Group owns two ships specialized in cable laying and one reconnaissance ship (marine survey) through Orange Marine and its Italian subsidiary Elettra TLC.

“As a leader in global digital infrastructure, Orange manages over 450,000 km of undersea  cables connecting all continents. This strategic investment in our fleet of cable ships will be a key to ensuring the resilience and security of the global Internet. It demonstrates our confidence in Orange Marine’s prospects and the expertise of its teams,” said CEO of Orange Wholesale Michaël  Trabbia.

Versatile ships for optimized cable maintenance and laying

These sister ships of the iconic Sophie Germain launched in 2023 will mainly be dedicated  to submarine cable maintenance. They will also be capable of laying connecting segments  up to 1,000 kilometers long.

These two new ships will replace the Léon Thévenin (1983, based in South Africa) and the  Antonio Meucci (1987, based in Italy), currently responsible for cable maintenance in the  Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Red Sea.

The construction of these new ships has been awarded to the Sri Lankan shipyard

Colombo Dockyard, which has an established reputation for its expertise and has already  delivered the Sophie Germain. This choice aligns with a logic of industrial excellence and  international collaboration, while meeting the highest standards of the sector. Their delivery is expected in 2028 and 2029.

An innovative fleet with a reduced carbon footprint

These new ships will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 20 per cent compared to current vessels:

▪ A streamlined hull, optimized for repairs and reducing fuel consumption by 25%,

▪ A hybrid system combining diesel and electric power. Electricity can be produced

onboard, and stored through backup batteries,

▪ Azipod main thrusters for increased maneuverability and reliability,

▪ The ability to connect to land-based electrical grids at port, thereby limiting the  carbon footprint.

The ships will also be equipped with a remotely operated underwater robot (ROV) that is  stored in an onboard hangar. The ROV, designed and manufactured by Orange Marine, will  enable safe cutting, inspection and burial of cables.

For President of Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc Didier Dillard: “The aging of the cable ship  fleet is a major concern for all players in the submarine cable industry. Building these new ships will enable Orange Marine and Elettra to have the most modern fleet in the world, serving all our clients globally, with an optimized environmental footprint.”