cable ship

cable ship (plural cable ships)

1. (nautical) a vessel fitted for laying and repairing submarine cables; it has a large roller built over the bows for paying out cable.
   • 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 134:

     The land line was eight months later in its completion than was anticipated, but the fleet of cable ships, sent out by the British Australian Telegraph Company, arrived in Port Darwin at the date appointed by them: November 6th, 1871.