KENC Engineering has designed an innovative, semi-automated boat landing for Nexans’ cable laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Electra. The solution enables the boat landing to be deployed safely and efficiently without the use of the vessel’s crane.
The project marks the first collaboration between KENC and Nexans. Nexans took delivery of the Nexans Electra in May 2026. The vessel features three turntables with a total cable capacity of 13,500 tonnes. It can bundle‑lay up to four cables simultaneously and is fitted with advanced subsea tooling, including jetting and burial systems. A hybrid power system allows the vessel to operate on biodiesel blends, significantly reducing emissions.
The new boat landing system combines safety, efficiency and ease of use to support smoother offshore operations. Designed with the crew and day-to-day operations in mind, the solution makes deploying the boat landing simpler and more efficient. KENC developed a semi-automated system that reduces the need for manual handling and allows the crew to operate the system safely and efficiently.
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Simple operation
For the movement mechanism, KENC developed a mechanical solution using gearboxes and a compact electric motor. This allows the boat landing to be moved in a controlled and safe manner during deployment and securing. The system is designed to handle the forces generated during operation while keeping the operation simple for the crew. Throughout the design process, KENC worked closely with DNV to ensure that the relevant standards and requirements were applied.
‘What makes this project unique is that we transformed a traditional, manual operation into a semi-automated solution that is simple and safe to operate,’ says Daniël Falkmann, Lead Engineer at KENC. ‘It was great to work together with Nexans and DNV to develop a solution that is both technically robust and practical to use.’
Also read: Ulstein to build new cable layer for Nexans
No crane needed
One of the key benefits of the new solution is that the boat landing can be deployed and secured independently by a single operator, without the need for the vessel’s crane or additional rigging. This makes deck operations more efficient and gives the crew more time and capacity to focus on other critical tasks.
