Preliminary Design · Multipurpose Hybrid Cable Lay Vessel

Maxwell Class

Premium equipment. Proven cable systems. Maximum utility.

Type Multipurpose hybrid cable lay vessel Station keeping DP2 design Mission spread SMD partnership + Dimension cable system Status Preliminary design · September 2026

Named in honour of James Clerk Maxwell, whose pioneering work on electromagnetism underpins modern power and communications, the Maxwell Class brings multiple offshore capabilities together in one versatile vessel — long-distance fibre-optic cable laying and repair, inter-array power cable installation, and deep ploughing and trenching support, with walk-to-work readiness and accommodation for up to 100 personnel on extended offshore campaigns.

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The Design

Maximising Utility. Connecting Energy and Communications.

Designed for long-distance fibre-optic cable laying and repair, power cable installation, and deep ploughing and trenching support, the Maxwell Class also offers walk-to-work readiness and accommodation support for offshore wind farm installation campaigns. One hull, one mobilisation, and a mission spread that changes with the contract rather than the vessel.

Long-distance fibre-optic cable laying and repair — 5,250 t of combined fibre-optic capacity, worked through twin 40 t SMD cable drum engines.
Inter-array power cable installation and offshore electrification projects, on the same 2,250 t dual-mode carousel that carries fibre-optic cable.
Deep ploughing and subsea trenching support — SMD MD3-XT plough, with burial depths up to 3.3 m subject to seabed conditions.
Diesel-electric propulsion with large and small generator sets, supported by 1,500 kWh of battery energy storage.
Hull and ballast arrangements designed for balanced trim and operational stability through the lay, and dual ROV hangars for parallel subsea work.
Walk-to-work ready, with an optional motion-compensated gangway and accommodation for up to 100 personnel to support extended offshore campaigns.

Equipment

SMD Partnership + Dimension Expertise

Top-of-the-line equipment, integrated as one capability. The cable-handling spread pairs SMD's drum engines and ploughing systems with Dimension's own proven power cable laying system, so a single vessel covers both the fibre-optic and the power cable market without a change of spread.

1SMD cable drum engines — twin 40 t cable drum engines supplied through the SMD partnership for fibre-optic cable operations.
2Dimension cable system — class-leading, proven power cable laying system with a 2,250 t dual-mode carousel for power and fibre-optic cable.
3SMD MD3-XT plough — SMD partnership for deep ploughing and trenching support, with burial depths up to 3.3 m, subject to seabed conditions.

Mission Versatility

Four Markets, One Mobilisation

— 01
Long-distance fibre-optic lay and repair — 5,250 t of combined fibre-optic capacity worked through twin 40 t SMD cable drum engines.
— 02
Inter-array cables and electrification — inter-array power cable installation and offshore electrification projects on the 2,250 t dual-mode carousel.
— 03
Deep ploughing and trenching — SMD MD3-XT plough spread with burial depths up to 3.3 m, subject to seabed conditions.
— 04
Walk-to-work and accommodation support — offshore wind farm installation campaigns, with accommodation for up to 100 personnel.

Technical Details

Design Particulars

Vessel & Programme
Type	Multipurpose hybrid cable lay vessel
Class name	Maxwell Class — after James Clerk Maxwell
Design status	Preliminary design · September 2026
Mission spread	SMD partnership + Dimension cable system
Cable Capacity & Handling
Combined FO cable capacity	5,250 t
Carousel	2,250 t dual-mode — power and fibre-optic cable
Power cable laying system	Dimension — class-leading, proven system
Cable drum engines	2 × 40 t, SMD
Stowage form	Below-deck carousel plus cable tanks
Ploughing, Trenching & Subsea
Plough	SMD MD3-XT
Burial depth	Up to 3.3 m, subject to seabed conditions
ROV hangars	Dual
Power, Propulsion & Station Keeping
Propulsion	Diesel-electric — large and small generator sets
Energy storage	1,500 kWh battery energy storage
Station keeping	DP2 design
Hull & ballast	Arranged for balanced trim and operational stability
Accommodation & Offshore Support
Persons on board	Up to 100
Walk-to-work	Ready — optional motion-compensated gangway
Campaign role	Offshore wind farm installation and accommodation support
Optional Upgrades
Offshore crane	150 t active heave-compensated (AHC)
ROV	1,000 hp
Gangway	Motion-compensated

Preliminary design. Particulars beyond those listed above are subject to final engineering — talk to our engineering team for the current design package.