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LS Marine Solution CEO Kim Byung-ok (left), Tersan Shipyard Chairman Osman Nurettin Paksu (center), and LS Marine Solution Executive Lee Keun-chan (right) pose for a commemorative photo at the Tersan Shipyard in Türkiye after a ceremony marking the start of construction for a next-generation subsea cable-laying vessel. / Courtesy of LS Marine Solution

LS Marine Solution is accelerating its push into the High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and offshore wind markets by beginning the construction of a next-generation subsea cable-laying vessel. Amid growing domestic and international investments in subsea power grids, the company aims to proactively secure installation capabilities to strengthen its competitiveness not only in national power grid projects but also in the North American and European markets.

On the 1st, LS Marine Solution announced that it held a steel-cutting ceremony for its next-generation subsea cable-laying vessel at the Tersan Shipyard in Türkiye, officially marking the start of the ship's construction.

The vessel, which will be South Korea's largest subsea cable layer, was first announced under an investment plan in May of last year and is slated for delivery in the first half of 2028. Following roughly a year of engineering and manufacturing preparations, the project has transitioned into the active building phase. The specialized vessel is optimized for long-distance, large-scale subsea cable installations, including HVDC and offshore wind power grids.

With a cable-carrying capacity of 13,000 tons, the vessel can execute long-distance installations in a single deployment. By reducing the frequency of port departures and cable jointing operations, it improves both installation efficiency and stability. The company intends to leverage these capabilities to participate in massive subsea power grid projects, such as the government-led "West Coast HVDC Energy Highway."

Once the new vessel is commissioned, LS Marine Solution will operate two specialized cable layers capable of handling HVDC projects, alongside its existing vessel, the GL2030. The company expects this expansion to significantly boost its capacity to execute ultra-large national grid initiatives as well as major overseas projects.

Furthermore, once LS GreenLink, the company's subsea cable manufacturing subsidiary in the United States, begins commercial production in 2028, LS Marine Solution plans to target the US and European markets by offering turnkey solutions that integrate local manufacturing with subsea installation. The strategy centers on accelerating global market expansion by building a competitive edge that spans production through construction.

"If the Haesong 3 offshore wind farm project secures its final selection in the upcoming fixed-price contract bidding, LS Marine Solution, as the preferred bidder for the subsea cable installation, expects to participate in the project," an LS Marine Solution official stated. "We plan to continuously expand our involvement in domestic and international offshore wind projects powered by our new cable-laying vessel."

                                                                                                           Lee Seo-yeon