MissionEase passes test for Nexans in sea trial of first full-scale system
Offshore cable-laying specialist Nexans has put to the test Vestdavit’s innovative MissionEase boat-handling system on its state-of-the-art newbuild Nexans Aurora ahead of starting installation work on renewable power projects worldwide, according to the company's release.
The use of MissionEase on the vessel constructed at Norway’s Ulstein Verft shipyard marks the first commercial delivery for Vestdavit of the full-scale system, which comprises an inboard hangar with an automated track-and-trolley system to launch multiple craft from either side of the ship.
The Nexans Aurora is the most technologically advanced cable-laying vessel of its kind and will be used to install subsea cables to connect offshore wind farms to national grids, as well as interconnectors between countries, while also supporting electrification of offshore platforms.
The vessel has been undergoing final commissioning and testing following a successful sea trial after being delivered on time on 31 May this year by Ulstein.
It is set to lay cables on the Empire Wind project off the US East Coast, as well as the Seagreen wind farm off Scotland and Crete-Attica interconnector in Greece.
The MissionEase hangar will accommodate and handle a total of eight heavy-duty workboats that will be used by Nexans to control the float-in of cable ends to shore, as well as for inspection, maintenance and repair work on cables close to shore and shallow-water surveys.
Such boats have to keep control of between 2-5km of submarine cables that are floated into shore on buoyancy bags on the sea surface.
Typically, workboats have been loaded onto a cable-laying vessel and launched by crane onto the water.
The Nexans Aurora, with 10,000 tonnes of cable load capacity and advanced instruments for cable transport and installation, is designed for operations in rough weather, with high manoeuvrability and DP3 station-keeping capability.
As such, MissionEase offers a wider weather window for launch and recovery of small craft that is important for efficient implementation of cable-laying projects given operating costs for the vessel, according to Flage.
Another benefit of the system is that the hangar allows for improved maintenance of workboats, he says.