Rotor, part of the WEG Group, delivers specialised motors for subsea cable-laying vessel

Rotor, part of the WEG Group, has contributed to a major subsea cable-laying project. Working closely with Remacut, part of the NOV Group, Rotor supplied 54 highly specialised motors for a vessel that will lay energy cables across the ocean floor. This marks Rotor’s second collaboration on a vessel of this type, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner in the marine industry.?

The vessel, currently in production, is designed to transport, store and lay subsea cables for renewable energy infrastructure. The motors supplied by Rotor play a key role in ensuring the reliable operation of equipment such as carousels, tensioners and capstans used for handling and deploying the cables. These cables, weighing thousands of tonnes, must be laid precisely and continuously while the vessel is in motion.?

The project involved the supply of 54 highly specialised motors ranging from 15.6kW to 87kW and with frame sizes from 132 to 315. Each motor was meticulously designed to meet the specific demands of the subsea cable-laying vessel.?

Each motor can operate reliably in harsh marine environments, meeting stringent technical requirements. The motors feature special cooling systems, marine coatings, IP67-rated brakes and encoders, ensuring robust performance even in challenging sea conditions. Additionally, all motors received DNV certification, a key standard in the marine industry.?

A critical aspect of this project was the motors’ ability to continue operating even in the event of a drive failure, ensuring uninterrupted speed and load handling during subsea operations. Rotor's engineering team worked closely with Remacut's engineers in both the UK and Italy to meet these demands, resulting in a custom solution tailored to the vessel's needs.?

“We were given a very specific brief by the customer, which included ensuring the motors could maintain optimal performance even if one went out of service,” explained Amanda Turiccki, sales manager for the UK at Rotor. “Additionally, meeting stringent torque requirements during start-up, running and braking was essential. The motors also had to fit in tight design parameters, including customised shaft modifications to interface with the customer’s preferred gearbox sizes.”?

The vessel itself is an engineering marvel, with a capacity to carry over 10,000 tonnes of cable on its deck carousel and an additional 3,500 tonnes below deck. It spans over 150 metres in length and 30 metres in width and will be manned by a crew of approximately 90 people.??

Designed for laying new energy cables and repairing existing ones, the vessel will play a crucial role in the development of renewable energy infrastructure worldwide.?

For more information on Rotor's custom motor solutions for marine or industrial projects, visit www.rotor.nl.??