EB Sea Stallions ride again
Posted: 16 September 2008
Increased activity in the submarine telecom and offshore renewables
sectors has seen a dramatic rise in the usage of Sea Stallion cable
ploughs designed and built by IHC Engineering Business (EB).
Sea
Stallion ploughs that have been 'resting' since the collapse of the
submarine telecoms industry in 2001 have been brought back into service
as this industry expands once more whilst Sea Stallion ploughs are being
used at the majority of new offshore windfarm projects to install and
protect submarine power cables.
EB has also recently received an order from Tyco Telecommunications (US)
for an all new Sea Stallion 3 plough system for delivery Christmas 2008.
"We are delighted to see this superb workhorse back in demand," said Dr
Tony Trapp, Managing Director of EB.
"A Sea Stallion 3 has been
mobilised on the 'CS
Durable' by Tyco and has been working hard in the South China Sea; a
second is being bought back into service by Tyco to support cable
operations in the Atlantic, and now they have ordered a third Sea
Stallion 3.
"This is an important milestone as it is the first new plough
system we have supplied to the submarine telecoms industry since the
2001 collapse, and the order highlights both the resurgence of this
industry, and the technical superiority of the Sea Stallion plough
technology. "
The new plough being built on Tyneside for Tyco Telecommunications will
be capable of burial up to 3m, able to work in water depths up to 2000m,
be supplied with a buoyant umbilical to shorten launch and recovery
times and improve productivity; and feature an advanced control system
in a 20' air conditioned control cabin.
All EB cable ploughs feature a
unique share design that allows aggressive cable burial in a wide range
of seabed conditions whilst minimising the residual tension in the
installed cable. An advanced SCADA/PLC based control system permits
accurate operation of the plough whilst providing comprehensive 'as laid
data.
Orders from the offshore renewable energy industry
It is not only the telecoms industry where EB is seeing an increase in
interest and orders. They have recently supplied a specialised Chalk
Share to Subocean Group for use on the Thanet windfarm project; and the
Sea Stallion 4 supplied to Visser & Smit Global Marine Contracting will
be used on both the Thorntonbank and Gunfleet Sands windfarms.
The Sea Stallion 4 differs from Sea Stallion 3 in that it is
specifically designed for the installation of large diameter, stiff
power cables in tough seabed conditions.
It has proved ideal for
offshore wind developments and again its aggressive burial and
reliability has come in for much praise from operators.
Sea Stallion background
"Our Sea Stallion plough range was launched some ten years ago and set
new standards of submarine telecom cable protection in the then buoyant
and booming submarine telecoms market," said Tony Trapp.
"The
ploughs demonstrate technical superiority, in terms of better cable
burial and reliable long term operation in a wide range of seabed
conditions and have established a hugely successful track record.
"Then the telecoms industry went belly up. Cable ships were converted
and ploughs mothballed including the two Sea Stallion 3 spreads. It is
marvellous to see those mothballs discarded, the telecoms industry
taking off again, and the Stallions firmly
back in full time service."
Posted by Richard Price, Editor EnergyME.com
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