Prysmian's new tanker (Prysmian) named Alessandro Volta (Alessandro Volta), built by VARD in Norway, has commenced its sea trials in Norway. This tanker, measuring 192.8 meters in length, is the largest vessel ever launched by VARD.
Construction details and features
The construction of the Alessandro Volta tanker began in September 2024 at the VARD shipyard located in Tulcea, Romania. The hull of the ship was completed in September 2025, and in mid-January of this year, the tanker was transferred from the factory in Romania to Norway for final construction stages.
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On October 23, Prysmian and VARD announced that this tanker is currently undergoing sea trials. Alessandro Volta, with a cargo capacity of 19,000 tons and a tensioning system capable of withstanding a maximum tension of 60 tons, is designed for cable laying operations at depths of up to 1,500 meters.
New equipment and technologies
The Alessandro Volta tanker is equipped with the latest generation of Prysmian's heavy cable laying devices developed by SMD in the UK. This technology, along with the advanced capabilities of the tanker, makes this vessel one of the most advanced in the industry.
Given the development of marine infrastructure and the need for renewable energy, the entry of the Alessandro Volta tanker into the field could accelerate underwater cable laying projects. This is particularly significant in the context of transferring renewable energy from remote sources to main power grids.
The sea trials of Alessandro Volta are considered a key stage in the commissioning process of this tanker, and the results of these tests could have significant impacts on the efficiency and performance of this vessel in the future.
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