Nexans, a French cable systems designer and manufacturer, has teamed up with Crowley Wind Services to create a Jones Act-compliant cable lay barge to support subsea transmission work for offshore wind and other industries in the US.
The 300-foot barge, built in Louisiana and tested in the Gulf of Mexico, is flagged and crewed in the US. It is designed to Nexans’ specifications and will be operated by American mariners under Crowley’s management.
Equipped with a 3,500-tonne cable carousel, the barge can be upgraded to 7,000 tonnes with a dual-carousel setup. It includes vertical injectors, a dynamic positioning system, and a multiple-anchor positioning system to facilitate accurate cable installation in coastal and nearshore environments.
“This barge will support our existing fleet of cable laying vessels, Nexans CLV Aurora, Nexans C/S Skagerrak, and Nexans CLV Electra. We are pleased to be working with Crowley to develop the capability to lay nearshore subsea cable in the U.S.,” said Pascal Radue, Executive Vice President of Nexans’ PWR-Transmission Business Group.
Initially aimed at supporting cable burial for Equinor’s Empire Wind project offshore New York, the vessel is built for flexibility. It will handle cable laying or repairs using burial tools such as a vertical injector, a jet sled, or a jetting ROV and is intended to serve telecoms and other subsea needs beyond offshore wind.
“The cable lay barge will provide a productive supply chain solution for offshore energy, telecommunications, and other sectors,” said Graham Tyson, Vice President of Operations, Crowley Wind Services.
“Coupled with our U.S. maritime fleet and mariners providing feedering services and other logistics and project management capabilities, we could not be better equipped to serve industries seeking subsea cable solutions.”
The project has support from maritime labor unions and is expected to contribute to US mariner employment.
“AMO is proud to be the leading source for United States Coast Guard licensed officers in the wind farm space. Our partnership with Crowley and new relationship with Nexans will help provide clean, affordable, and sustainable energy to millions of Americans,” said American Maritime Officers National President, Willie Barrere.
“The SIU welcomes this opportunity and looks forward to providing dedicated, well-trained mariners to help ensure the new vessel’s success,” said Seafarers International Union President David Heindel. “SIU members have sailed aboard cable-laying vessels for decades, so we are more than up to the task.”
In March, Nexans secured a significant framework agreement with Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) for the design, manufacturing, and supply of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables for offshore wind farms in France, valued at over EUR 1 billion.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz