Atos sets sail with advanced digital control for cable-laying vessels

This article delves into the evolution of cable-laying vessels, the critical role that electrohydraulic systems play in improving operational capabilities, and how industry leaders such as Atos are reinventing marine hydraulic engineering through digital innovation and intelligent automation.

Introduction to Cable-Laying Ships

A Cable-Laying Vessel, also known as a cable layer, is a purpose-built maritime vessel crafted for the installation of submarine cables, including telecommunications, electric power transmission, and various other applications. The latest generations of cable layers embody a fusion of cable-laying and repair functionalities, enabling them to deploy, retrieve and repair damaged sub-sea cables on board.

Tailoring their operations to factors like water depth and potential risks of damage, cable layers utilise specialised ploughs to bury sub-sea cables securely into the seabed. A sophisticated positioning system empowers the vessel to maintain a precise position above the designated cable route, ensuring accuracy in cable deployment even in challenging weather conditions, providing optimal safeguards for all cable-handling processes.

The cable itself is typically arranged in a spiral configuration within a cable carousel, a horizontally rotating table from which it is unreleased based on the speed of the laying operation. Presently, state-of-the-art cable layers boast the capacity to stow and deploy substantial cable loads, exceeding 10,000 tons.

These cable-laying vessel demonstrating their versatility in laying single lines of submarine communication cables and in installing two or three additional lines. To further emphasise their capabilities, these ships can effectively lay cables up to a depth of 3,000 meters using a capstan, a large winch around which multiple coils of the cable are wrapped, or through one or more tensioners placed in a cascade pattern. In addition, they can be equipped with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), adding another level of operational flexibility.

Electrohydraulic Solution for Cable Layer Ships

Electrohydraulic systems have emerged as a game-changer in the field of cable laying operations, revolutionising the way modern vessels handle this crucial task. With their advanced technology and precision engineering, these systems offer an efficient solution for cable-laying vessels. By combining the advantages of electronics and hydraulics, electrohydraulic systems provide optimal control and flexibility during cable installation.

These systems are designed to handle the complexities of cable laying, ensuring precise tensioning, bending, and positioning of the cables. Integrating electrohydraulic systems in modern vessels has significantly enhanced the speed and accuracy of cable-laying operations, reduced downtime, and increasing productivity.

Moreover, the advanced automation and monitoring features of these systems enable real-time data analysis, ensuring the overall safety and reliability of the cable laying process. In summary, electrohydraulic systems have become an indispensable asset in the cable layer industry, enabling efficient and effective cable installation in modern ships.

Marine hydraulic engineering: the Atos way

Atos, as a leading systems supplier in marine hydraulic engineering, offers a range of electrohydraulic solutions specifically designed for cable layer ships. These solutions are engineered to enhance efficiency, safety, and reliability in the challenging marine environment. Atos’s electrohydraulic systems, particularly for cable laying equipment, demonstrate superior performance in terms of force control and operational precision.

Using advanced electrohydraulic technology in capstans, pick up arms, tensioners, and carousel systems streamline the cable laying process and significantly reduces the risk of operational failures.

Digital driver technology enables customised settings for controlling the hydraulic force applied by tensioners, alarms logging, and data acquisition through the built-in oscilloscope. As all these functions can be remotely managed, ATOS technicians have successfully tuned and remotely started tensioner systems, the core of cable layer, significantly reducing commissioning times and costs.

This technological excellence underscores Atos’s commitment to pioneering innovations that address the evolving demands of marine hydraulic engineering in the maritime industry, positioning Atos as primary system suppliers.

For more information, visit: https://www.atos.com/en-in/