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Leonardo da Vinci is almost ready for its first journey to Norway

Leonardo da Vinci is almost ready for its first journey to Norway

Leonardo da Vinci, Prysmian Group new and most advanced cable layer vessel in history, represents a record-breaching achievement not only for its unmatchable features, but also in terms of manufacturing process. Following the finalization of the hull, she will perform a sea-journey, from the Danube river and then through all across the Mediterranean and along the ocean shores of Portugal, Spain and France up to Norway, where the ship will be completed for its final leave port.

 

Dario Brivio, Project manager on Leonardo da Vinci, doesn’t hide his pride while giving the update on the state of construction in the Vard’s shipyard in Tulcea, Romania: “The construction of the vessel is quite advanced, as all 5 blocks have been aligned from stern to bow, while already 4 of them have been practically welded and we are starting to mount the superstructures”. Works are actually proceeding on time with the overall schedule. 
After completion of all the milestone steps foreseen at Vard’s shipyard in Tulcea, such as steel cutting, keel laying and installation of main engines, the hull is due to be completed in summer 2020. It will then be towed to its final destination at Vard’s shipyard in Brattvag, Norway, for fitting out and finishing, after one month of navigation.

“To build this 171-metre vessel we had to proceed step by step: first units then modules and finally blocks. There were not enough space in the hangars and therefore blocks have been mated and welded together on the dock”

Dario Brivio

Project Manager on Leonardo da Vinci

 

According to Brivio, the installation of the capstan, designed and produced by Prysmian and delivered to the shipyard, was one of the most delicate phases of the construction process, along with the engines manufacturing and thrusters ones. “The capstan”, Brivio explains, “with a capacity of up to 100 tons, is double the industry average. It was assembled in Tulcea, on the dock, and then installed inside the hull. We worked closely with the local team facing some challenges in terms of manufacturing tolerances and assembly contractions”. 
Prysmian Group was also responsible for all the other onboard cable-laying equipment, such as turntables, pickup arms, tensioners and caterpillars, that will be installed on the Leonardo da Vinci in Norway.
 

The Leonardo da Vinci journey from Tulcea to Brattvag will take nearly one month. Through the Danube the vessel will reach the Black Sea and then, passing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, the Mediterranean. Once out of the Strait of Gibraltar, it will sail northward along the ocean coasts of Portugal, Spain and Bay of Biscay and English Channel, to reach the Scandinavian peninsula and enter the final phase of its building process in Brattvag.