Page 16: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2026)

OFFSHORE ENERGY

Celebrating the completion of Site

Acceptance Testing of the ? rst commercial

Quantum EV for client Jan De Nul.

FROM TRIALS TO CABLE LAY: FROM TRIALS TO CABLE LAY:

SMD Quantum ROV Set for Fleeming Jenkin IntegrationSMD Quantum ROV Set for Fleeming Jenkin Integration

Credit: SMD

By Amir Garanovic ubsea technology and services company SMD has com- compared with hydraulic systems capable of 34% conversion, pleted Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) on the ? rst of its while also reducing topside power and equipment requirements.

pioneering electric subsea remotely operated vehicles The EV platform is designed to operate in multiple con? gura-

S(ROVs), the SMD Quantum EV, marking a milestone tions, including umbilical-powered, battery-powered roadmap, as the system moves toward offshore deployment. The SAT or hybrid modes combining both. SMD also highlights the pos- operations were carried out at DEEP Campus near Bristol. sibility of deploying the vehicle using a lighter, data-only um-

The ? rst Quantum EV, purchased by Luxembourg-based bilical in battery mode, reducing drag and simplifying launch marine contractor Jan De Nul, is expected to be integrated and recovery. For umbilical-powered operations, the system into Jan De Nul’s Fleeming Jenkin cable-laying vessel (CLV) uses a high-ef? ciency, high-voltage DC power transmission ahead of commercial deployment in 2026, linking the arrival approach intended to reduce umbilical size and handling loads.

of a new electric work-class ROV platform with a new-gener- In its standard con? guration, the Quantum EV has a depth ation CLV designed for large-scale offshore renewables work. rating of 3,000 meters, with optional con? gurations rated to 4,000 meters and 6,000 meters. The vehicle has a payload ca-

SMD Quantum EV: Electric ROV Design and Performance pacity of up to 400 kg and a total vehicle power of 200 kW

The Quantum EV forms part of SMD’s modular electric vehi- or 268 hp. Thruster con? guration consists of four horizontal cle (EV) range, designed to support work-class subsea interven- and four vertical Curvetech electric thrusters, supporting high tion while reducing the inef? ciencies associated with conven- levels of maneuverability and station-keeping accuracy.

tional hydraulic ROV systems. According to SMD’s product Performance ? gures provided by SMD include impressive documentation, electric propulsion allows a higher proportion bollard pull and surface speeds, enabling the system to contin- of input power to be converted into usable thrust reaching 63%, ue operations in high currents. Auto-functions include head- ing, depth, altitude and ROV dynamic positioning.

The vehicle is also designed to support a range of tooling op-

The launch of Fleeming Jenkin CLV.

tions, including hydraulic tooling supplied by onboard power units, enabling it to perform intervention, inspection and con- struction support tasks in demanding subsea environments.

Fleeming Jenkin CLV as Operational Platform for SMD

Quantum EV

Fleeming Jenkin, Jan De Nul’s newest CLV, was launched in

October 2025 at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China by ? ood- ing the dry dock and is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026, after completion of ? nal construction and sea trials.

Designed for the installation of subsea cables for renewable energy transmission, the vessel has a cable carrying capacity of 28,000 tons, making it the largest cable-laying vessel in the world.

Credit: Jan De Nul 16 January/February 2026

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