Malaysian company orders multiple cable-laying vessels from a Dutch ship builder

OMS Group, a KKR-backed Malaysian subsea digital infrastructure company, has ordered multiple cable-laying vessels from Dutch maritime firm Royal IHC.

A statement from OMS said that the first of the new vessels is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027. The group did not disclose any financial details or the total number of vessels to be constructed.

Per Business Times, KKR invested US$400 million in OMS Group in October last year as part of its expansion in the digital infrastructure space in Southeast Asia. OMS is a portfolio company of KKR. In June, OMS said it secured US$292.5 million worth of loans from a group of financial institutions including HSBC, E-Sun Commercial Bank and SinoPac, with help from KKR.

U.S.-based WireCo, a global leader in synthetic and steel wire rope manufacturing, announced that one of its brands, Lankhorst Ropes, entered a strategic alliance with Sensor Technologies that has led to an innovative product designed to redefine industry standards and drive maritime operations into the future.

A press release said that Sureline Systems, the recently unveiled product from Sensor Technologies and Lankhorst Ropes, represents a leap forward in maritime technology. The pen-shaped Sureline sensor is installed in the core of the Lankhorst rope. Via an on-vessel display, it provides crews with the ability to precisely monitor the performance of each rope, including rope tension, rope angle, slew angle and peak loads, as it is being used. During mooring, Sureline allows the rope’s tension to be monitored and adjusted to ensure it remains within the safe working load. For towage, Sureline helps the tug master avoid over-tensioning the tow line above their preset limit.

Lankhorst Ropes is part of WireCo WorldGroup, one of the world’s largest steel and synthetic fiber rope manufacturers. Founded in 1803, Lankhorst Ropes has over 200 years’ experience in the manufacture and supply of ropes for mooring and towing applications.

“We are excited to partner with Lankhorst Ropes in introducing this groundbreaking product to the maritime market,” said Sensor Technologies CEO Peter Farthing. “Our collaboration represents a synergy of innovation, expertise and shared vision. Together, we have created a solution that empowers maritime operators to achieve new levels of efficiency, safety and sustainability. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to driving progress and shaping the future of the maritime industry.”

Hengtong Cable Australia (HCA) will be supplying United Group, 45 km of flexible LV, 15 km of earth and 15 km of 33 kV cable, for its Stage 2 Western Downs BESS project. Queensland is an Australian state covering the continent’s northeast, with a coastline stretching nearly 7,000 km.

This project involves the installation of a 270 MW / 540 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and the necessary high-voltage infrastructure to connect it to the grid at Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub. The BESS will comprise 140 Tesla Megapack 2XL units and is anticipated to commence operations in 2026.

The United Group is currently working on Stage 1 of the Western Downs Battery, which is of the same capacity and is expected to be operational later this year. Once completed, both stages will operate in conjunction with Neoen’s 460 MWp Western Downs solar farm, facilitating the transmission of stored energy into the electricity network.

The Hengtong Group has 11 manufacturing facilities based in Europe, South America, South Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, with sales offices in more than 40 countries and regions around the world.

The UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) announced that it will support an investment in subsea HVDC cable manufacturer XLCC to develop a new world-leading factory in Hunterston in Scotland.

A press release said that the funding consists of an initial £20 million from the UKIB with an option to invest a further £67 million upon XLCC achieving specific development and funding milestones.

“The financing will help XLCC develop its factory in Hunterston, Scotland, which once completed will have capacity to produce thousands of km each year of leading edge HVDC cable,” the release said. The UKIB commitment is complemented by additional investment from existing and new investors. This is incremental to the funding of over £40 million raised by the company to date, to design the product, complete detailed design activities for the factory and to achieve full planning permission at the site.

“The project is firmly in line with the Bank’s twin missions to help tackle climate change and support regional and local economic growth,” the release said. Once complete the Hunterston factory will create around 900 permanent jobs including over 200 apprenticeships.

Ian Douglas, XLCC’s CEO, said that XLCC’s mission is to provide critical elements of the infrastructure that are essential to the energy transition and will reduce project costs to the benefit of the U.K. consumer.

XLCC’s already has its first order: four 3,800-km-long cables to connect solar and wind renewable power generation in the Sahara to the U.K. for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project. “We look forward to delivering a factory of great local and international importance for HVDC subsea cable,” said XLCC Project Director Alan Mathers. “The U.K. will be positioned as a world leader in the green economy, with the site at Hunterston playing a key role in connecting cheap, green energy from renewables projects around the world.”

Primetals Technologies has recently completed an installation at Baoshan Iron and Steel in Shanghai, China, for a new combination mill featuring both a wire rod mill outlet and bar-in-coil line to produce 600,000 tons per year of wire rod and bar products.

A press release said that the installation is Baoshan’s first greenfield long-rolling investment since the original mill installation in 1998. The new mill is designed to increase rolling mill capacity and expand the size range so the wire rod mill outlet can handle 7.5-mm to 29-mm rod and the bar-in-coil line can handle 8-mm to 50-mm bar.

To reduce downtime, Primetals Technologies used four eDrive mini-finishing mills with 250 mm ultra-heavy-duty roll housings for integrated single-family rolling from a standardized mill train. The eDrive, one of the company’s newest long-rolling solutions, is designed to increase load-carrying capacity, reduce long-term costs and enable low-temperature thermomechanical rolling, using quick-change roll units.

The project included equipment supply, engineering, and site supervision services as an open consortium between Baowu Steel Group and Primetals Technologies. The full list of equipment included four eDrive mini-finishing mills, guide optics, a pinch roll and laying head, the latest high-speed pouring reels, as well as a mechatronics package comprising the mechanical software necessary for this key equipment.

“The Primetals Technologies high-speed rod mill eDrive and bar-in-coil technology has been well received and the progress of the project has been highly praised by all parties,” the release said.

Baoshan Iron and Steel is a subsidiary of state-owned Baowu Steel Group that is located in Shanghai. It owns four plants located in Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhanjiang and Wuhan. The steel service company specializes in stainless steel and carbon steel alloys, including wire rod products, since the late 1990s.