Prysmian has confirmed that Alessandro Volta sea trials are under way in Norway. The company and VARD reported the vessel’s status on 23 October 2026, with VARD identifying its Søviknes yard as the base for the trials.
The 192.8-metre cable layer uses the VARD 9 18 design. VARD describes it as the biggest vessel it has launched to date.
Three cable carousels give the ship a combined carrying capacity of 19,000 tonnes. Its tensioning system can sustain up to 60 tonnes of tension, and the ship is designed to install power cables at depths reaching 1,500 metres. Prysmian’s vessel specifications also list DP3 capability, bundled cable installation and simultaneous laying and burial.
Work on the ship began at VARD’s Tulcea yard in Romania in September 2024, followed by hull erection there in September 2025. The vessel departed for Norway in mid-January 2026. The remaining construction work was completed there before the current trials.
A new heavy-duty cable burial plough from British developer SMD is planned for use aboard Alessandro Volta. Prysmian intends to deploy the equipment from Monna Lisa as well.
In its sea-trial update, Prysmian said the vessel would join its fleet to install subsea electricity cables for offshore renewable energy and connections between countries.
