machine and before the stern chute for repair
operations or stoppages for any reason.
It is the author’s opinion the cable drum engine would
be the preferred machine to use for a majority of
power cable installations due to its higher SWL
capacity, no-slip payout & pickup capability and ability
to handle large diameter cables. Unfortunately, this
machine is the largest and heaviest of all of the cable
machine types and hence the most difficult to mobilize
and demobilize. Most CDE’s are permanently fitted to
cable vessels whereby the LCE is the portable
machine of choice.
The final necessary piece of major equipment is a
cable tank. Depending on power cable size, the tank
can either be static or dynamic. For large diameter
power cables (>100mm) a turntable type cable tank is
to be utilized. Once again it all depends on power
cable dynamic properties with regards to storage and
deployment. System design must take into
consideration the cost impact of requiring a turntable
style cable tank. These units are not readily available
in today’s marketplace.
The cable may be delivered on reels. In this case a
deck configuration could be utilized such that the reels
could be setup on stands to feed into the cable
machine thereby negating the use of a cable tank.