Taihan Cable & Solution Unveils Palos
Taihan Cable & Solution (TC&S) held a launching ceremony on July 24 for the 6,200-ton submarine cable laying vessel “Palos” at the Godeok Pier in the Asan National Industrial Complex in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, home to the company’s submarine cable facility. The Taihan Cable & Solution Palos launch marks a major step in Korea’s offshore wind power development and maritime technology innovation.
South Korea’s First Offshore Wind Power CLV
According to Korea IT Times, the Palos is the only offshore wind power Cable Laying Vessel (CLV) in South Korea. It can carry 4,400 tons of submarine cable per voyage, making it a strategic tool for large-scale offshore wind power projects. Government officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and the Korea Wind Energy Industry Association, attended the ceremony alongside clients and partner companies.
Advanced Design and Engineering Capabilities
The Palos CLV was designed and built specifically for submarine cable installation, offering superior performance to traditional Cable Laying Barges (CLBs) that are modified cargo vessels. Its flat-bottom design enables operation in shallow waters and various site conditions.
Equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DP2), Palos maintains precise positioning during cable-laying operations. It travels up to 9 knots, providing more accurate and stable cable management than CLBs, which rely on tugboats and struggle with weather and tide variations.
A Milestone for Korea’s Offshore Wind Market
During the event, TC&S Vice Chairman Song Jong-min emphasized that the Taihan Cable & Solution Palos launch positions South Korea among the few countries worldwide capable of operating CLVs—only about 30 such vessels exist globally. Song described Palos as a “strategic national asset” that strengthens Korea’s offshore wind industry and reduces reliance on foreign markets.
Expanding Global Reach and Market Growth
Taihan Cable & Solution also announced a $137 million EHV cable order from a U.S. customer for an underground power grid project in the eastern United States. The deal reinforces the company’s growing presence in the global energy infrastructure market.
In 2023, TC&S reported a net profit of 71.87 billion won, more than triple the previous year’s performance, with a strong order backlog of 1.94 trillion won by the end of Q1. These milestones underline TC&S’s continued leadership in advanced cable solutions and sustainable energy infrastructure.