Global Marine Expands Subsea Cable Fleet with Forum’s XT600 Trenching System

Global Marine Systems announced the addition of a ForumTM XT 600 Trenching System to its subsea cable fleet. The XT600 is a purpose-built system that allows Global Marine to significantly enhance performance across the full range of demanding subsea cable maintenance, trenching and survey activities.

The equipment is the latest evolution to the highly successful Triton series of subsea cable maintenance vehicles, and is supplied by Forum Energy Technologies.

The XT600 operates in both tracked and free-fly mode, and has a depth capability of 2000m. It is powered by 600 horsepower, delivering over 500 horsepower to the jetting functions for more efficient subsea cable burial. The XT600 buries and de-trenches subsea cable up to three metres deep. The system is designed with a light and compact frame, with strength capability that allows operations in conditions up to Sea State 6 on the Beaufort scale.

The XT600 Trenching system will be installed on the Global Marine vessel Cable Retriever, and will be used exclusively for submarine cable repair and burial work for the South East Asia and Indian Ocean Cable Maintenance Agreement (SEAIOCMA).

“Global Marine has long-term commitment to our customers,” noted John Walters, Global Marine’s Director of Maintenance. “We pride ourselves on providing the best subsea cable services, and that is made possible by our continual upgrades to our cable maintenance equipment.”

SEAIOCMA renewed submarine cable maintenance contracts with Global Marine in 2012. SEAIOCMA provides submarine cable maintenance spanning an area between Djibouti in the west, Perth in the South, Guam in the East and the northern tip of Taiwan. The agreement provides for the repair and maintenance of subsea telecommunications cables in the event of cable damage by ship anchors, fishing, tsunami and earthquakes. Ships based in Singapore, the Philippines and India are on standby ready to respond within 24 hours in the event of a disruption to telecommunications traffic.

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Press Release, April 30, 2013; Image: Forum