Belgian offshore contractor DEME has ordered a new offshore construction vessel (OCV) designed with methanol-ready propulsion systems, as the company seeks to expand its subsea cable installation capacity for the growing offshore wind market.

The 123-metre vessel, based on the Norwegian SALT 310 design, will be equipped with a hybrid 1,000-kWh battery system alongside its methanol-ready propulsion design. DEME said the vessel represents a "sizable investment" — defined as between €50m and €150m.

The vessel will complement DEME's existing cable installation fleet, which includes the Living Stone and Viking Neptun vessels. It is scheduled for delivery in 2028 from PaxOcean's Zhoushan shipyard in China.

Key technical specifications include a DP2 dynamic positioning system, a 150-tonne active heave-compensated offshore crane, and accommodation for up to 123 people. The vessel will feature two 2,500-tonne cable carousels below deck and a hangar for two work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

Hugo Bouvy, managing director offshore energy at DEME, commented: "With more than 5,000 km of subsea cables installed across wind farms in Europe and the United States, DEME continues to support clients in delivering offshore projects efficiently and reliably. Building on this track record, the new OCV further enhances DEME's cable installation capabilities and expands its versatile fleet of vessels and solutions."

The vessel will be capable of executing trenching, burial, and cable-laying operations. From the vessel, an ROV trencher can be launched to position cables beneath the seabed, working alongside DEME's cable installation fleet.

DEME, listed on Euronext Brussels, operates in offshore energy, environmental remediation, dredging, and marine infrastructure. The company reported turnover of €4.1bn with EBITDA of €764m in 2024.