South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution and Panstar Robotics, created by the Korea Institute of Robotics & Technology Convergence (KIRO), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for domestic deployment. This initiative aims to reduce South Korea’s dependence on foreign equipment and overseas specialists.
The MoU, signed on 19 August, focuses on developing high-performance ROV trenchers, operating technologies, and installation solutions. This aims to reduce reliance on foreign equipment, strengthening Korea’s submarine cable industry by enhancing project reliability and efficiency.
The ROVs will support offshore wind cable systems, grid interconnections, and HVDC submarine cable projects, including the West Coast Energy Highway.
The partners will test submarine cable burial and protection technologies, pursue commercialization, and engage in national R&D programs to advance technologies and explore overseas market opportunities.
“Developing high-performance ROVs for submarine cable installation is crucial to strengthen Korea’s submarine cable supply chain,” said Chun-won Lee, Executive Vice President of Taihan Cable & Solution. “We aim to enhance competitiveness across the submarine cable value chain, contributing to national energy security and playing a key role in the global market.”
Taihan is constructing Submarine Cable Plant 2 for 640kV HVDC cables, following their first plant. Earlier this year, they finalized a dedicated cable test center for simultaneous testing of two 640 kV-class HVDC circuits.
Taihan also added the cable-laying vessel (CLV) Skandi Connector to its fleet, complementing PALOS, Korea’s first CLV dedicated to offshore wind.
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