Enshore Advantage Cable-Lay Barge Takes Shape at Holland Shipyards

Construction of Enshore Subsea's new cable-lay barge Enshore Advantage is progressing well at Holland Shipyards Group's yard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, with the vessel on schedule for delivery in the coming months and first deployment in the Wadden Sea in 2027.

The first half of the vessel is now fully assembled and welded, with fabrication underway on the second half. Sections of the barge have recently relocated into the paint facility at the yard.

Vessel Design and Capabilities

Enshore Advantage is a specialist shallow-draft cable-lay barge designed for bundled HVDC installations in shallow and environmentally sensitive waters. The vessel features an integrated cable-lay spread capable of handling four-cable HVDC bundles, addressing the specific challenges of nearshore operations where conventional vessels cannot operate.

The barge offers extremely shallow draft capability, enabling it to approach very close to shore and, where required, safely ground out to support nearshore cable installation activities. A dedicated mooring system and spud arrangement will provide secure positioning during operations, and an optional accommodation module can be deployed to reduce crew transfers and enhance operational efficiency offshore.

First Deployment and Grid Context

Upon delivery, Enshore Advantage will mobilise for its first project supporting Nexans in the Wadden Sea, scheduled to begin in 2027. The work forms part of TenneT's offshore grid expansion initiative in Germany, for which Enshore Subsea has been tasked under a framework agreement to install cable sections in the Wadden Sea for several grid connection systems.

The barge has been developed specifically to meet the operational requirements of this shallow-water, environmentally sensitive marine environment, where traditional cable-installation vessels reach their technical limits.