Nexans and Crowley Wind Services have announced a partnership to develop and operate a new cable lay barge designed for subsea transmission work. The vessel, which is Jones Act compliant, will support the installation of underwater cables for offshore wind energy, telecommunications, and other industrial applications.
The 300-foot barge was built in Louisiana and tested in the U.S. Gulf according to Nexans’ specifications. It will be operated by American mariners under Crowley’s management. The vessel features vertical injectors, a dynamic positioning system, and multiple-anchors positioning technology for precise cable placement even in difficult conditions.
With a 3,500-ton capacity carousel that can be upgraded to 7,000 tons with two carousels, the barge is equipped to lay and bury subsea cables using various tools such as a vertical injector or jetting ROV. It is expected to play an important role in projects like Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore wind farm near New York and can also serve other subsea cable needs.
“This barge will support our existing fleet of cable laying vessels, the Nexans CLV Aurora, Nexans C/S Skagerrak and Nexans CLV Electra, and we are pleased to be working with Crowley on developing the capability to lay nearshore subsea cable in the U.S.,” said Pascal Radue, executive vice president of Nexans’ PWR-Transmission Business Group.
Graham Tyson, vice president of operations at Crowley Wind Services added: “The cable lay barge will provide a productive supply chain solution for offshore energy, telecommunications and other sectors. Coupled with our U.S. maritime fleet and mariners providing feedering services and other logistics and project management capabilities, we could not be better equipped to serve the needs of industries seeking subsea cable solutions.”
American Maritime Officers National President Willie Barrere stated: “AMO is proud to be the leading source for United States Coast Guard licensed officers in the wind farm space. Our long-lasting partnership with Crowley, and our new relationship with Nexans, will help to provide clean, affordable and sustainable energy to millions of Americans and will open the door to future offshore projects.”
Seafarers International Union President David Heindel commented: “The SIU welcomes this exciting opportunity and looks forward to providing dedicated, well-trained mariners to help ensure the new vessel’s success. SIU members have sailed aboard cable-laying vessels for decades, so we are more than up to the task. This is a worthwhile project that will boost American shipboard manpower while reinforcing the great importance of the Jones Act, which has protected United States national, economic and homeland security for more than a century.”
Crowley has been active in maritime transportation for over 130 years as both an owner/operator serving commercial clients as well as government agencies across 36 nations.
