Global Pipe Laying Vessels Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunities, and Forecast, 2021-2031F | Deep-Water, Offshore Wind, and CCS Propel 8.93% CAGR
Dublin, Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Pipe Laying Vessels Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031F" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The Global Pipe Laying Vessels Market is projected to grow from USD 3.67 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.13 Billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate of 8.93%. Market expansion is being supported by rising global energy demand, increased deep-water oil and gas development, offshore renewable energy investment, and the ongoing replacement and modernization of subsea infrastructure.
Pipe laying vessels support the installation of subsea pipelines connecting offshore production facilities with onshore processing infrastructure. They are also increasingly used for offshore wind cable networks and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. Demand for advanced vessels is expected to remain strong as offshore developments move into deeper and more technically challenging environments.
Market Drivers
Accelerating offshore oil and gas activity remains a major contributor to Global Pipe Laying Vessels Market growth. As energy companies approve new deep-water projects, contractors require specialized vessels capable of installing rigid and flexible flowlines under complex subsea conditions. This trend is increasing vessel utilization across engineering, procurement, construction, and installation projects.
Industry order activity demonstrates the strength of this demand. TechnipFMC reported subsea inbound orders of USD 2.5 billion in its October 2024 third-quarter earnings release, reflecting continued momentum in offshore project awards. Subsea7 also reported an USD 11.3 billion backlog in 2024, indicating a substantial pipeline of work for major marine contractors and subsea installation providers.
Offshore wind development creates an additional source of long-term demand. These projects require extensive inter-array and export cable networks, with installation processes often supported by modified pipe laying equipment and related maritime construction systems. According to the Global Wind Energy Council's June 2024 Global Offshore Wind Report 2024, 410 GW of new offshore wind capacity is forecast to be installed over the next decade. This expansion is expected to sustain demand for vessel capacity, subsea engineering, cable installation, and offshore construction services.
The need to replace aging subsea networks in mature offshore basins also supports the market. Pipeline upgrades and maintenance programs provide recurring opportunities for vessel operators, reducing reliance on new oil and gas developments alone.
Market Challenges
Operational safety, unpredictable weather, and technical complexity remain significant barriers to market growth. Deep-water projects and developments in harsh offshore environments are vulnerable to work stoppages, vessel downtime, project delays, and higher insurance expenses. Extended charter periods can materially increase total project costs and reduce contractor margins.
Safety performance continues to demand attention across the marine contracting industry. The International Marine Contractors Association reported in 2025 that line of fire incidents represented 52% of all lost time injuries among participating marine contractor members during the preceding year. IMCA also reported that the Total Recordable Injury Rate increased to 1.1 incidents per million hours worked in 2024.
These conditions require contractors to invest heavily in training, compliance, emergency response, liability management, and advanced safety systems. Although these measures are essential, their cost can restrict capital available for fleet expansion and discourage investment in new vessels. Maintaining reliable operations while protecting personnel and equipment will therefore remain a central challenge for the pipe laying vessels industry.
Market Trends
Carbon Capture and Storage infrastructure is creating a new growth segment for pipe laying vessel operators. CCS developments require specialized flowlines capable of transporting dense-phase carbon dioxide from industrial or collection sites to offshore storage locations. This market allows marine contractors to diversify their portfolios and deploy high-specification vessels in projects driven by emissions reduction policies.
In March 2025, Subsea7 confirmed its selection for the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of a five-kilometer CO2 pipeline for Norway's Northern Lights Phase 2 project. The award demonstrates the growing role of subsea contractors in emerging carbon management value chains.
Automation is also reshaping vessel performance. Operators are upgrading onboard pipe factories with automated handling, welding, and production systems designed to improve consistency, increase lay rates, reduce manual intervention, and shorten installation times. These improvements can help control costs and limit operational exposure in difficult offshore conditions.
Allseas highlighted this trend in February 2025 when it announced the first contract award for the Solitaire double joint factory upgrade. The modernization includes state-of-the-art automated handling equipment intended to improve the performance of a system that has processed more than 13,000 kilometers of pipe.
Key Market Players
Report Scope
The Global Pipe Laying Vessels Market report evaluates market size, growth prospects, industry trends, operational challenges, and emerging opportunities across installation methods, positioning systems, operating depths, and geographic regions.
Pipe Laying Vessels Market, by Installation:
Pipe Laying Vessels Market, by Positioning System:
Pipe Laying Vessels Market, by Depth:
Pipe Laying Vessels Market, by Region:
Key Attributes
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