SMD Delivers Cable Burial Tractor to Boskalis

Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) said it has delivered an ultra-high powered, compact 2,400 horsepower Cable Burial Tractor (CBT2400) to Boskalis.

The CBT2400 and associated deck equipment were mobilized directly onto Boskalis’ specialist cable lay vessel, the Ndeavor from the Swan Hunter quayside access point adjacent to SMD’s production facility. The tractor will be operated by Boskalis and specialist trenching contractor Canyon Offshore.

The CBT range is a family of subsea tractor systems capable of trenching power cables in seabed’s ranging from sands and clays to rock in ultra-shallow, beach approach work or deep water.

The CBT2400 is the latest addition to SMD’s existing burial tractor range and is an evolution of the CBT2100 which was last delivered in 2011. The CBT2400 is designed to provide a reliable solution for protecting cables in hard ground with interchangeable cassette tooling, SMD said. The tractor provides a remote-control platform with a range of trenching tools for different ground strengths; the tool consists of a hard ground cutting boom, rear jetting tools for lowering the power cable and next generation eduction tools for spoil clearance. The vehicle operates in post lay mode and has been specifically designed for safe handling of the product. 

SMD Services conducted specialized training for Boskalis and Canyon Offshore’s offshore personnel at their in-house training facility earlier this month ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate the new tractor.