CRP Subsea protecting Crete to Peloponnese interconnection cables

CRP Subsea has delivered its cable protection solutions (CPS) for the Crete to Peloponnese electricity interconnection as part of a contract with Hellenic Cables.

The three different types of cable ancillary products have been installed offshore and will protect significant cable sections along the route of the west cable for the Crete to Peloponnese interconnector.

CRP Subsea said its Motion Stabilisers, along with Bend Restrictors, including VIV strakes, and Tri-Strakes C (Combi) VIV suppression strakes, are designed to protect these submarine power cables from environmental damage potentially caused by lateral movement in very deep waters and difficult seabed environments.

Mitigating axial or lateral pipe and cable walking, the Motion Stabilisers have been designed to reduce slippage on the seabed and mitigate additional tension and damage from movement, the company added.

“We are extremely proud of this substantial contract award in support of Hellenic Cables interconnector project, which has now been successfully installed,” said Andy Smith, sales team manager (Elastomers) at CRP Subsea.

“The seabed environment around Crete is extremely challenging with deep water and a variable seabed morphology. Our solutions will enhance stability of the power cables from lateral movement, additional tension, over-bending and fatigue, providing a long-term solution.”

The Crete – Peloponnese interconnection consists of two 132-kilometer submarine cables between Chania and Neapoli, Laconia, as well as 42 kilometers of underground cables in Crete and Peloponnese, with a new substation in the Eastern Peloponnese and upgrade of the existing substation in Chania.

The project, said to be the longest subsea AC cable in the world, is expected to provide around 34% of Crete’s total electricity demand in 2021.