Four-track subsea trencher targets windfarm market

An area that has presented particular technical challenges with the development of offshore wind is installation and burial of inter-array and export cables. It is a challenge as many windfarms are in shallow-water locations; areas presenting a lower risk of collision from others who ply their trade and leisure businesses on the open water. But there are many locations where turbines are actually high and dry at low water. The resulting high wave loadings, along with strong currents and variable seabed conditions result in the need for a specific amphibious ROV solution for the laying and burying of cables.

IHC’s Hi-Traq was presented to offshore wind industry professionals from the UK, Europe and the USA at a special event recently at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The new remotely operated vehicle has been developed into the most efficient tracked trencher, capable of tackling the full range of challenges mentioned above. In particular, currents on the seabed present a requirement for the trencher to have a minimum weight to guarantee safe, accurate working and efficient trenching operations.

Chris Jones, Product Manager of the Subsea Vehicle Team at IHC Engineering Business, explained how the Hi-Traq differed from existing trenching assets: “Features such as the independent four-track undercarriage and a flexible tooling arrangement were engineered as integral parts of the design, and have remained the main focus of the project throughout.”

Installation of subsea cables, in particular the inter-array elements linking individual and groups of turbines with the substations requires high levels of manoeuvrability, a feature IHC claim sets the Hi-Traq apart from the competition. Features include an independent four-track undercarriage and flexible tooling arrangement engineered as integral parts of the design. The design allows the trencher to climb slopes with gradients of up to 20’. Hi-Traq has been successfully tested and demonstrated at IHC’s facility at South Shields in the Port of Tyne where a special terrain was created to mimic seabed conditions. “The test programme has confirmed that the Hi-Traq trencher is capable of fulfilling all of our functional requirements,” said Mr Jones.

IHC Engineering Business Ltd is a member of the Dutch shipbuilding group, until recently known as IHC Merwede. The company commemorated a significant and proud occasion in their long history recently when His Majesty the King of The Netherlands awarded the honorary title of Koninklijk (Royal) to IHC Merwede, now known as Royal IHC. Companies nominated for this prestigious award must have been in existence for at least 100 years and have prestige with regard to their image, size and reliability. A look at Royal IHC’s profile immediately demonstrates how they qualified for this award.

By Peter Barker