Europe Races to Wire the Seabed

Nexans, Prysmian, and NKT invest in cable-laying ships as offshore wind and interconnectors strain installation capacity

22 Dec 2025

Europe’s subsea cable business is shifting into a faster, more demanding phase. Offshore wind farms are growing larger, power interconnectors are multiplying, and the hidden networks beneath the seas are suddenly under strain. The result is a scramble not just to make more cable, but to install it.

For years, manufacturing grabbed the spotlight. Now the bottleneck has moved offshore. Developers and suppliers warn that there are too few vessels capable of laying and repairing subsea cables, especially as projects stretch into deeper water and busier seas. Installation, once a logistical detail, has become a strategic choke point.

That reality is pushing major suppliers to invest directly in ships. The new generation of cable-laying vessels is bigger, more automated, and designed to install multiple cables in a single voyage. Fewer trips mean tighter schedules, less weather risk, and better control over complex projects, particularly in places like the North Sea.

Nexans is a clear example of the shift. The company is advancing a high-capacity installation vessel due for delivery in 2026, aimed squarely at large offshore wind farms and power interconnectors. The logic is simple: as renewable targets tighten, speed and certainty matter as much as production volume.

Competitors are moving along the same path. Prysmian continues to build out its installation fleet, while NKT is developing the vessel Eleonora, expected to enter service in 2027. Together, these moves suggest a shared conclusion across the sector. Owning installation assets is becoming a competitive edge, not a luxury.

Policymakers are also paying closer attention. Subsea power and data links are increasingly viewed as strategic infrastructure, with industry groups calling for clearer rules around protection, repair readiness, and long-term planning.

These ships are expensive, and their success depends on a steady flow of projects. But with offshore wind ambitions holding firm and interconnectors seen as essential to Europe’s power balance, the industry is betting that the seabed will stay busy for years to come.