Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has agreed to sell one of its cable-laying vessels, the Skandi Connector, to South Korean cable manufacturer Taihan Cable & Solution, marking a strategic reshaping of its subsea fleet portfolio.
Built in 2016, the Skandi Connector will become the second cable-laying vessel in Taihan’s fleet, alongside the 2010-built Palos, and will also make Taihan only the second operator of such vessels in South Korea. Delivery to the new owner is expected in the third quarter of 2026, although neither company has disclosed financial details of the transaction.
For DOF, the divestment aligns with a broader strategic direction aimed at concentrating on integrated subsea services rather than vessel ownership across multiple offshore segments.
“The sale of the Skandi Connector is in line with our long-term strategy to focus on our core offering of integrated subsea services,” said Mons Aase, CEO of DOF Group.
For Taihan Cable & Solution, the acquisition represents a meaningful expansion of its offshore installation capabilities at a time when demand for subsea infrastructure is increasing alongside offshore wind development and cross-border power interconnections.
With the addition of the vessel, the company strengthens its ability to carry out both intra-array and export cable installation for offshore wind projects, while also positioning itself to support more complex long-distance interconnection projects and HVDC transmission networks.
By operating two cable-laying vessels, Taihan is effectively building a dual-track installation capacity, allowing it to deploy different assets depending on project type, environmental conditions and installation requirements—an approach designed to improve flexibility and operational efficiency in increasingly competitive offshore markets.
