CWind Delivers Isles of Scilly Cable Repair Project

CWind, a part of the Global Marine Group, has completed a power cable repair, reconnecting the Isles of Scilly to the mainland electricity.

The C.S. Sovereign, the company’s specialist cable installation vessel, was used for the repair of the cable damaged late February by an anchor.

Using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) deployed from the back deck of the C.S. Sovereign, the vessel and technical team onboard surveyed the cable on the sea bed, located the fault and recovered the cable ends before completing the joint.

“The project was challenged by inclement weather, strong currents and restricted tide times but, together with the team at Western Power Distribution (WPD), we worked tirelessly to get the work completed within a month,” said Andy Lloyd, director of Power Cables, CWind. “We are pleased the repairs were completed as quickly as possible without causing disruption to the customers on the Islands.”

Lloyd continued: “The cable was significantly damaged and there were several technical issues to overcome, but with the help of the WPD staff, we were able to create an innovative solution. Not only did we repair the damaged cable, we also created a shorter, more direct route between the connection points, and re-laid the cable on the sea bed, at a depth of 70 metres. All of this was successfully completed within just a few weeks.”

The C.S. Sovereign has now returned to the company’s UK depot in Portland, Dorset, but will return to the site in the coming weeks to complete further surveys and protection works on the repaired and re-laid cable.