Prysmian Monna Lisa built by Vard awarded ship of the year 2025

Prysmian and VARD, a subsidiary in the Fincantieri Group, has announced that the market leading cable laying vessel Prysmian Monna Lisa has been awarded the prestigious Ship of the year 2025 by the Norwegian trade magazine Skipsrevyen.

Since 1997, Skipsrevyen has annually honored world-class Norwegian shipbuilding and design.

Skipsrevyen has given this prestigious recognition to the Prysmian Monna Lisa on the grounds that she is the most advanced vessel in its class. Prysmian Monna Lisa can perform deep water installation with the capacity to install cables at depths of more than 3,000 meters and has the highest cable loading capacity on the market (2 carousels of 7,000 tons and 10,000 tons).

In addition, the Prysmian vessel has an enhanced energy storage system, doubling the capacity of its predecessor Prysmian Leonardo da Vinci, which also designed and built by VARD for Prysmian. In addition, the vessel is equipped with a High Voltage Shore Connection, that connects the vessel to a land-based electrical infrastructure allows to shut down the Diesel generators and run solely on shore power at port/loading facility, leading to no CO2 emissions.

These innovations, together with the possibility to operate using biodiesel, contributes directly to operational efficiency and enhanced environmental performance - two of the core goals of this newly-built vessel - and one of the reasons for the Ship of the year 2025 award.

Prysmian Monna Lisa stands as a symbol of advanced offshore cable-laying capabilities, tailored design, and exceptional execution -delivered as planned from the Fincantieri owned Vard Group.

Raul Gil, EVP Transmission BU of Prysmian, said: “Prysmian Monna Lisa is part of our unrivalled fleet of eight proprietary cable-laying vessels and has been purpose-built for submarine cable installation. This vessel reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability. Prysmian plays a key and undisputed role in the submarine cable industry, with proven capabilities that make us a reliable and dedicated leader in executing complex, turn-key projects. As a global leader, we are fully committed to technological innovation, and we are proud to partner with world-class shipbuilders such as Fincantieri and Vard to further enhance our installation capabilities”.

The collaborative effort between Prysmian and VARD has ensured a fully integrated vessel, where design, outfitting, and systems work seamlessly together. From initial concept to final delivery, the VARD team and Prysmian team have operated as one - ensuring effective problem-solving and streamlined decision-making where insight, innovation, and integration has come together to meet highly specific operational goals.

“Prysmian Monna Lisa highlights what can be achieved through true partnership. This vessel is a testament to our team’s expertise, agility, and ability to align with Prysmian’s ambitions. Together, our collaborative approach is setting new standards for offshore cable installation” says Alberto Maestrini, Chairman of VARD.

“We in VARD are proud to receive this award together with Prysmian. Prysmian Monna Lisa is a token of the excellence and innovation in Fincantieri Group and VARD. The success of Prysmian Monna Lisa builds on the foundation laid with Prysmian Leonardo da Vinci - and continues with a third vessel now under construction. The consistent quality delivered by VARD and Fincantieri, Prysmian’s deep knowledge of cable-laying operations, and a shared commitment to excellence make this partnership one to watch” says CEO of VARD, Cathrine K. Marti.

Innovation with impact

Prysmian Monna Lisa is built for the future. Among its many advanced features, she includes:

• High-voltage shore connection to reduce emissions during port operations

• An enhanced energy storage system, doubling the capacity of its predecessor

• An upgraded A-frame and towing system, tailored for demanding simultaneous lay & burial and deep-water operations

Prysmian Monna Lisa is based on the VARD 9 04 design, developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. The design focuses on efficiency, precision, and operational reliability, making it well-suited for complex cable-laying projects worldwide.

With a length of approximately 171 meters and a beam of about 34 meters, the vessel is equipped with cutting-edge cable installation equipment, including large-capacity carousels designed for high-volume cable transport and deployment. It features state-of-the-art DP3 positioning and seakeeping systems, ensuring superior stability and accuracy during operations. The vessel also boasts a high bollard pull capacity, enabling demanding offshore tasks, and is equipped with battery hybrid solutions, enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.

The hull was built at Vard Shipyards Romania – Tulcea, while outfitting, topside installation, and finalization took place at Vard Søviknes in Norway with contributions from VARD subsidiaries Vard Interiors and Vard Electro.

Prysmian Monna Lisa is part of Prysmian’s growing fleet of next-generation cable-laying vessels, designed to meet the increasing global demand for reliable and efficient subsea power connections. This is the second cable-laying vessel VARD has built for Prysmian, with the third vessel already under construction.