RENE DESCARTES
Cable Lay Vessel
Owner: Orange Marine
CLVOperational
FRDP2
FRDP2Also known as: CS RENE DESCARTES, C/S RENE DESCARTES, RENE DESCARTES
Key Specifications
Cable Capacity
5,800t
Max Cable Diameter
150mm
Max Lay Depth
2000m
Transit Speed
16 knots
DP / Thrusters
DP2 (7.5 MW)
Year Built
2002
Emissions
ZERT 0 (Conventional)
Depth Regime
Offshore
C/S René Descartes is a purpose-built submarine cable ship delivered in 2002 and tailored for Orange Marine, which remains both owner and manager of the vessel. Designed to technical specifications defined by Orange Marine, she has accumulated a long operational history and has installed more than 30,000 km of submarine cables, including 8,200 km buried. In 2019 she received a certificate from the Chilean authorities recognizing her operations in the Strait of Magellan and around Cape Horn. Technically, the vessel is classed by Bureau Veritas with AUT-IMS, ICE CLASS IC and DPS-2/FMEA notations, and is equipped with a DP2 Alstom duplex ADP22 system, seven thrusters, two rudders and three electric cable engines to support precise laying and repair work. Her four cable tanks provide capacity for about 5,800 tonnes of cable plus repeaters, enabling continuous lay operations on long-haul systems of roughly 6,000–8,000 km depending on configuration. René Descartes is focused on installation and maintenance of submarine fibre-optic networks worldwide, combining main-lay capability with burial, inspection and survey using ploughs and ROVs for telecom and regional maintenance projects in deep and coastal waters.
Identification
NameRENE DESCARTES
Other NamesCS RENE DESCARTES, C/S RENE DESCARTES, RENE DESCARTES
CategoryCable Lay Vessel
StatusOperational
IMO Number9248100
MMSI226291000
Call SignFNWZ
Flag StateFrance
FranceClass NotationBureau Veritas AUT-IMS, ICE CLASS IC, DPS-2/FMEA
Dimensions
Length Overall144.5 m
Breadth22 m
Max Draft7.4 m
Gross Tonnage13,864 GT
Deadweight8,208 t
Transit Speed16 knots
Cranes
Crane 1
Locationstern
Lift Capacity5t @ 14m
3t @ 24m
Stern crane with two capacity/radius ratings.
Crane 2
LocationROV crane
Rated at sea state 6.9.5t @ 8m
ROV handling crane.
Crane 3
Sea state 5 rating; used for sea plough handling.40t @ 12m
A-Frame for sea plough operations.
Facilities
Total Berths75
Total Cabins75
Single Cabins75
Double Cabins0
Propulsion & Power
Propulsion Typediesel_electric
Propulsion System
Propulsion arrangement consists of 4 diesel generators rated at 4,000 kW each, driving 2 main shafts rated at 4,000 kW each, supplemented by 4 tunnel thrusters of 1,500 kW each and 1 forward azimuthing unit of 1,500 kW. In total, the vessel has 7 thrusters/propellers and two rudders, giving good maneuverability and excellent station-keeping capability under DP2 control. This propulsion power also provides a towing capacity of 125 tons to operate submarine ploughs and allows towing up to 65 tons without tug assistance, even against 2‑knot currents and 25‑knot cross-winds, while maintaining a sailing speed of up to 16 knots during maintenance response operations.
Number of Engines4
Total Power16,000 kW
Generator Power16 MW
DP ClassDP2
Max Speed16 knots
Bollard Pull125 t
Thrusters
4x tunnel (1.5 MW each)
1x azimuth (1.5 MW each)
Build Information
Delivery Date2 Aug 2002
ShipyardHanjin Heavy Industries
Construction Country
South Korea
South KoreaConstruction LocationHanjin Heavy Industries, Pusan, South Korea
Class NotationBureau Veritas AUT-IMS, ICE CLASS IC, DPS-2/FMEA
Owner & Operator
Owner
Operator
Cable Lay Vessel Specifications
Cable Storage
Max Cable Load5,800 t
carousel - #1
Outer Diameter16 m
Cable tank, 16 m diameter, 1,000 m³ (one of three identical main tanks).
carousel - #2
Outer Diameter16 m
Cable tank, 16 m diameter, 1,000 m³ (one of three identical main tanks).
carousel - #3
Outer Diameter16 m
Cable tank, 16 m diameter, 1,000 m³ (one of three identical main tanks).
carousel - #4
Outer Diameter7.3 m
Spare cable tank, 7.3 m diameter, 198 m³.
Cable Handling
Max Cable Diameter150 mm
Lay Speed1,111.2 m/hr
Max Lay Depth2,000 m
Laying Wheel Diameter4 m
Stern Sheave Diameter3 m
Fiber Optic TankYes
Fiber Optic Capacity5,800 t
Tensioners
linear
1 x 20 wheel-pair (wp) LCE (linear cable engine).
capstan
Wheel Diameter4 m
2 x 4 m cable drum.
other
2 x 4 wp DO/HB cable machinery units.
linear
3 x 2 wp LCE transporters.
Burial Tools
Hector 6
Typejet trencher_rov
Max Burial Depth3 m
Work-class ROV specialised in burial by jetting after laying of repaired cables; also capable of surveys. Capacities: operations simultaneous laying and burial, hydraulic power 20 kW, operating range up to 2,000 m, cable diameter up to 150 mm, laying speed 0.6 knots, traction force 40 t nominal / 60 t peak.
Hector 6
Typetrencher
Max Burial Depth1.5 m
Tracked subsea trencher for burial, inspection, survey, gripping and cutting. Power 225 kW, operating depth 2,000 m, trenching depth 1.5 m, trenching speed 750 m/h, free-swimming speed 2.5 knots, speed on tracks 2,500 m/h.
Elodie
Typeplough
Six-tonne submarine sea plough used for subsea cable burial; operated from CS René Descartes and lost during operations near North Uist (Western Isles).
Shallow Water Operations
Depth RegimeOffshore
ROV Support