Prysmian Group (Prysmian) has marked a significant milestone in its subsea transmission business by christening its new cable-laying vessel (CLV), Monna Lisa, and completing a significant expansion at its Pikkala subsea cable factory in Finland.
The Italy-based cable systems leader sees these developments as key steps in bolstering its Transmission business. The Monna Lisa, now fully operational, joins Prysmian’s growing fleet of high-tech vessels and matches the capabilities of its flagship, Leonardo da Vinci, which can lay cables at ocean depths of up to 2,150 meters.
Designed with sustainability and performance in mind, the 171-meter Monna Lisa features two significant carousels, carrying 7,000 and 10,000 tons of submarine cable. It also boasts environmentally friendly features, including a high-voltage shore power connection, a battery hybrid system, and biodiesel-compatible generators, earning it a reputation as the most eco-conscious vessel in its class.
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The vessel’s naming ceremony at the Pikkala site was attended by key Finnish and Italian dignitaries, including Finland’s Minister of Education, Anders Adlercreutz, and representatives from both countries’ embassies. The ceremony also celebrated the completion of Prysmian’s EUR 200 million investment in expanding the factory’s capacity.
The centerpiece of the factory upgrade is a new vertical tower—Finland’s tallest structure at 185 meters—used to produce high-voltage direct current (HVDC) 525 kV submarine cables. Utilizing vertical continuous vulcanization technology, the plant can now produce approximately one kilometer of cable per day, destined for subsea transmission projects worldwide.
Prysmian CEO, Massimo Battaini, said, “Transmission is a major driver of organic growth. We have been making outstanding progress over the past months, and thanks to our long-term vision, we are now seeing our position further strengthened as these two hugely important assets come into operation. What we have invested in is also an investment in Europe, and an investment in our collective energy security and independence.”
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The connections at the heart of Europe’s energy system are being manufactured by Prysmian in Finland, Italy, Germany, France, and beyond, where the company is also increasing capacity. Prysmian’s vessels will enable Europe to connect with new frontiers as they unlock new territories thanks to their deep-sea capabilities.
“Today, we also celebrate innovation. This tallest tower brings the factory to the sky, while our unmatched vessel fleet is not only unlocking solutions, but always more sustainable in how it does it,” added Battaini.
This expansion aligns with Prysmian’s long-term strategy to dominate the global submarine cable market, which already holds a 40% share. Since 2018, the company has invested roughly EUR 850 million in strengthening its fleet and installation technologies, including eight vessels projected to be fully operational by 2028.
Despite recently scrapping plans to build a EUR 200 million offshore wind cable factory in Massachusetts, Prysmian remains focused on supporting the rising demand for subsea cables driven by interconnectors and offshore wind. The company is managing a EUR 17 billion order backlog and aims to generate over 55% of its revenue from solutions by 2028.
