Last week North Sea Systems started carrying out trials of their CableFish® survey platform at EMEC.
This is the culmination of the MRCF Project, managed by the Carbon Trust and funded by the Scottish Government. CableFish® will offer a survey capability that enables cable laying operations to be extended in tides up to 6 knots in strength – currents in which it is difficult to operate ROVs.
The system consists of a sensor platform that houses cameras, lights, an altimeter, a USBL beacon and a motion sensor. The platform rides down the cable to provide real-time touch-down monitoring and a full record of the installation; this includes visual imaging, positional data and an indication of the cable tension and strumming.
A dedicated umbilical management system is used to control the depth of CableFish ® and the video and data is integrated into the vessel’s survey spread. The whole system is easily transported by road and mounted on the cable laying vessel.