Deugro Delivers 58 km of Subsea Cables for Cyclades IV Interconnector

Deugro Milan has delivered 58 km and 3,550 metric tons of Prysmian HVAC subsea cable from Prysmian’s factory in Finland to the transshipment port Heraklion on the Island of Crete in Greece for the Cyclades IV Interconnector Project.

The Cyclades Project is an HVAC interconnector initiative linking the Southern and Western Cyclades to the mainland power grid. deugro’s responsibilities included supplying a 23-meter-diameter carousel spread, engineering services, cable spooling, personnel, and all related tasks to ensure safe and efficient operations. To meet the project’s timeline and technical specifications, deugro’s Chartering team secured the heavy-lift deck carrier Vestvind. To facilitate safe sea transport and smooth spooling during cargo pickup and delivery, deugro’s teams in Rotterdam and Milan made several technical upgrades before the vessel’s deployment. These upgrades included installing the 23-meter carousel spread, a loading tower, a deck tensioner, and additional deck equipment like generators and a staircase tower. The system was engineered to securely handle 58 kilometers of Prysmian subsea cables, enabling seamless and efficient spooling operations. All installations took place at the Ports of Rotterdam and Vlissingen in the Netherlands, coordinated by deugro’s Rotterdam office with support from local partners. After eight days, the equipment setup was complete, and the deck carrier departed on time to retrieve the cables from Finland. At Prysmian’s factory port in Pikkala, the cables were loaded into the carousel under the constant oversight and testing by the client, deugro, dteq Transport Engineering Solutions, and the subcontracted spooling team. With the vessel anchored about 400 meters offshore, continuous monitoring and precise alignment of the mooring system with the mooring buoys were critical to maintain stability and ensure safe operations.

After nearly ten days, the cables were successfully loaded into the tank, allowing the deck carrier to set sail for the project site in Heraklion, Greece. There, the cables were unspooled to the installation vessel within seven days, keeping the cable-laying project on schedule. Following the successful cable delivery, the Vestvind left Crete and traveled directly to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for swift demobilization and handover of the equipment and vessel. The project faced multiple challenges, including securing the only available vessel capable of accommodating a 23-meter carousel suitable for cable loading and navigating the notoriously harsh weather conditions along the Finland–Crete route. Nevertheless, all 58 kilometers of cable were transferred to the cable-laying vessel as planned, fully meeting the client’s expectations.