Reliable cable guidance for pipe-laying towers and tensioners

Profile

• What was needed: E4.1 series energy chains as a pre-assembled readychain system
• Requirements: A robust energy supply system with low dead weight for use at sea.
• Industry: Offshore
• Success for the customer: A plastic E4.1 energy chain keeps the overall weight comparatively low and bears the high loads on tower. The pre-assembled readychain design greatly accelerated installation.

Problem

The J-lay tower on this pipe-laying vessel required safe cable guidance to the laying tower itself, but also to individual components such as the tensioners and welding systems.
At the pivot point at the foot of the pipe-laying tower, an especially large number of heavy cables were to be guided vertically to the tensioning devices and other equipment.
In addition to durable, robust cable guidance, which safely supports and moves the high cable weights, compactness and low weight were needed in the solution. The solution's low dead weight allowed the overall weight to be kept manageable – and overall weight affects tower flexibility and energy consumption.

Solution

High robustness and a compact solution with the lowest possible dead weight: E4.1 series plastic energy chains enabled us to offer the customer a tailor-made solution. The energy chains with various external dimensions are used at the pivot point, inside the tower, and on the four tensioner tracks for pre-loading cables and pipes. The largest cable guidance system, for example – an E4.350 – was installed at the foot of the laying tower.
The polymer material from which the cable guidance system is made is not only designed for extreme additional weights, but also comparatively lightweight. It is also absolutely corrosion-free – ideal for offshore environments.
To allow work to start quickly without loss of valuable time, the energy chains were delivered as ready-chain systems in which all cable guidance systems were fitted with the necessary cables, which can reduce harnessing time by up to 95%.