Cable Repair Project
Subsea Cable Failures
In general, the operational lifetime of a subsea cable is between 25 and 35 years. During these years, many factors can influence the lifespan of the cable. For example environmental factors play an important role in the process of durability. Strong sea currents can cause the cable to come loose from the sand and float in the free-span areas. Also, objects dropped into the ocean, including fishing nets and anchors, can cause the cable to come loose, making it more vulnerable. As a result, the submarine cables can become damaged and has to be repaired if possible.
Cable Repair Joints
In general, the operational lifetime of a subsea cable is between 25 and 35 years. During these years, many factors can influence the lifespan of the cable. For example environmental factors play an important role in the process of durability. Strong sea currents can cause the cable to come loose from the sand and float in the free-span areas. Also, objects dropped into the ocean, including fishing nets and anchors, can cause the cable to come loose, making it more vulnerable. As a result, the submarine cables can become damaged and has to be repaired if possible.
Another important reason that sea cables have to be repaired is due to a failing cable protection system. Over the last few years, the consequences of using polyurethane cable protectors have become more and more clear. The operational lifetime of polyurethane subsea cable protection systems is significantly shorter than initially assumed and they also isolate the cables resulting in thermal problems. Vos Prodect identified these problems at an early stage and has been using cast-iron shells for more than 20 years. These articulated pipes allow heat dissipation, which ensures the cable is cooled naturally. Since cast iron is heavier than polyurethane, it will remain stable on the seabed. As they are smaller in dimensions with high density, they add more stability to the submarine cable and will ensure that there is less movement around the free-span areas.
Operations & Maintenance
Vos Prodect is extending its scope with Operations & Maintenance (O&M) support for subsea cable systems.
Asset owners are increasingly facing challenges with ageing offshore wind assets, including limited availability of spare components and, in some cases, original suppliers no longer being active.
Our cable protection and hang-off systems are designed to stabilise cables and control movement throughout their operational lifetime. O&M builds on this by supporting the long-term performance of installed systems.
O&M activities focus on:
- Inspection of cable protection and hang-off systems
- Verification of system integrity and cable stability
- Identification of potential risks related to movement, wear or external impact
- Technical support for maintaining and optimising system performance
- Support in defining spare strategy for critical components (e.g. cable hang-offs, JBRs)
- Assessment of legacy systems where original suppliers are no longer available
By combining engineering knowledge with offshore experience, Vos Prodect supports asset owners in maintaining reliable cable system performance over time.
In addition, Vos Prodect offers rapid response capability and technical support during repair campaigns, ensuring that issues can be addressed efficiently when they occur. By combining inspection with preparedness and response, O&M contributes to future-proofing offshore assets and supporting long-term operational continuity.
Project support and service
At Vos Prodect, we place great emphasis on project support and service to ensure client requirements are met. Customer focus, cooperation, and forging a partnership are the principles that lie at the heart of everything we do and the structure of our project management. Vos Prodect offers a comprehensive package of service activities, including extensive assistance in engineering, design, and project development. All of our products continuously undergo vigorous quality and conformity checks, and testing is performed extensively. Since quality, functionality, and accuracy are of unprecedented value in the offshore business, Vos Prodect also offers on-site testing facilities and industry-related desktop studies. Explore our services below.