With these two new ships, the Orange group will have the most advanced and modern maintenance fleet in the world. In total, four ships will operate in the Atlantic, the English Channel, the North Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea, ensuring the continuity and security of essential submarine cable networks across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, the Group owns two ships specialized in cable laying and one reconnaissance ship (marine survey) through Orange Marine and its Italian subsidiary Elettra TLC.

"As a leader in global digital infrastructure, Orange manages over 450,000 km of undersea cables connecting all continents. 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.

Versatile ships for optimized cable maintenance and laying
These sister ships of the iconic Sophie Germain launched in 2023 will mainly be dedicated to submarine cable maintenance. They will also be capable of laying connecting segments up to 1,000 kilometers long.

These two new ships 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 construction of these new ships has been awarded to the Sri Lankan shipyard Colombo Dockyard, which has an established reputation for its expertise and has already delivered the Sophie Germain. This choice aligns with a logic of industrial excellence and international collaboration, while meeting the highest standards of the sector. Their delivery is expected in 2028 and 2029.

An innovative fleet with a reduced carbon footprint
These new ships will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 20% compared to current vessels:

  • A streamlined hull, optimized for repairs and reducing fuel consumption by 25%,
  • A hybrid system combining diesel and electric power. Electricity can be produced onboard, and stored through backup batteries,
  • Azipod main thrusters for increased maneuverability and reliability,
  • The ability to connect to land-based electrical grids at port, thereby limiting the carbon footprint.

 

The ships will also be equipped with a remotely operated underwater robot (ROV) that is stored in an onboard hangar. The ROV, designed and manufactured by Orange Marine, will enable safe cutting, inspection and burial of cables.

For Didier Dillard, President of Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc: "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."

 

 

Related files

sophie_germain
03/11/2025

About Orange

About Orange Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. The Group aims to be the trusted partner for everyday digital life by providing individuals, businesses and communities with reliable connectivity and innovative services. As of the end of 2025, Orange connects 340 million customers (including MasOrange) across 26 countries and generated 40.4 billion euros in revenues.
As a trusted player, Orange leverages the excellence of its very high-speed broadband networks to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Group is a European leader in fiber, with 100 million connectable households, and convergent offers. In France, Orange connects 34 million customers and was ranked No. 1 by the regulator Arcep for the quality of its mobile network for the 15th consecutive year. In Africa and the Middle East, the Group’s growth engine, Orange serves nearly 180 million customers and promotes digital and financial inclusion through its connected solutions.
Under the Orange Business brand, the Group supports companies in transforming their networks as well as in AI, trusted cloud and cybersecurity. Orange is also a major player in the wholesale market, where it has a leading global telecom infrastructure and significant capabilities for deploying and operating submarine cables. A committed innovator, Orange relies on 700 researchers and holds a portfolio of 11,000 patents.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). More information: www.orange.com. 

Orange and any other Orange product or service names mentioned in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.