French telecoms firm Orange is to build two new subsea cable ships to replace part of its aging fleet.

Orange Marine, the subsea cable subsidiary of Orange, this week announced the construction of two new cable ships to serve submarine cable networks in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The new vessels will replace the Léon Thévenin (1983, based in South Africa) and the Antonio Meucci (1987, based in Italy), currently responsible for cable maintenance in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Red Sea.

The two ships will mainly be dedicated to submarine cable maintenance, but will be capable of laying connecting segments up to 1,000 kilometers long. Delivery is expected in 2028 and 2029.

"This strategic investment in our fleet of cable ships will be a key to ensuring the resilience and security of the global Internet. It demonstrates our confidence in Orange Marine's prospects and the expertise of its teams," said Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale.

In total, four ships will operate in the Atlantic, the English Channel, the North Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea. Orange also owns two ships specialized in cable laying and one reconnaissance ship (marine survey) through Orange Marine and its Italian subsidiary Elettra TLC.

Orange launched its latest cable ship, the Sophie Germain, in 2023.

The construction of these new ships has been awarded to the Sri Lankan shipyard Colombo Dockyard, which previously delivered the Sophie Germain.

Orange said the new vessels will feature a hybrid system combining diesel and electric power. Electricity will be produced onboard, and stored through backup batteries, and the vessels will be able to connect to land-based grids at port. The vessels will also reportedly feature a streamlined hull and improved thrusters, resulting in 25 percent reduced fuel consumption.

Didier Dillard, president of Orange Marine and Elettra added: "The aging of the cable ship fleet is a major concern for all players in the submarine cable industry. Building these new ships will enable Orange Marine and Elettra to have the most modern fleet in the world, serving all our clients globally, with an optimized environmental footprint."

Cable ships are few and far between. According to the ISCPC, there are around 60 in operation, many of which are more than 30 years old. With more than 400 subsea cables running and demand increasing, a limited supply of vessels can delay projects and slow repairs.