The second cable installation phase at the Global Tech I offshore wind farm has started.
The first cables have already been laid between the foundations and pulled into them, and now it is time for them to be flushed into the ocean floor by the installation vessel Cable Innovator and its Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Excalibur.
The ROV is driven by chains and incorporates two sets of jetting swords, placed left and right along the corresponding cable. The sword jetting system in combination with hundreds of nozzles, pump out the water with high pressure at the same time as they are driving through the seabed.
As a result, the soil on the cable route is liquefied and dissolved so the cable sinks into the seabed. Subsequently, the ROV travels again along the cable route and measures how deep the submarine cable has sunk.
The high-capacity submarine cables will be flushed into a soil depth of approximately 1.40 meters and protected from damaging.
Around 120 kilometers of submarine power cables will connect the 80 wind turbines to the Global Tech I transformer station in seven ring circuits.
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Offshore WIND Staff, July 19, 2013; Image: Prysmian PowerLink Services