MTS Supports Wave Hub Cable Work

Marine service provider Marine and Towage Services Group Ltd. (MTS) announced that its vessel MTS Xplorer has completed 'as built' survey works as part of marine cable installation activity conducted by contractor James Fisher at the pioneering Wave Hub site off the Cornwall coast.

Wave Hub provides a dedicated testing location for innovative offshore renewable energy technology, with purpose-built transmission infrastructure enabling installed devices to export to the grid. Cabling work on the project has now been completed with a further six kilometers of cabling, connectors, cable abrasion protection and rock bag stabilization installed.

As part of a subcontract with the principal contractor James Fisher Marine Services, MTS was employed by Cornwall based, Insight Marine Projects Ltd to provide a survey vessel to undertake a high resolution as-built multibeam survey of the new cables.

For the Wave Hub site, the reliable operation of installed cabling is critical in provision of an effective test bed for proving multiple offshore renewable energy devices. 

With a proportion of the MTS fleet based in the South West, James Fisher and the project team were able to benefit not only from the efficiencies created by a local vessel deployment, but also from the firm’s extensive experience supporting marine survey and construction operations for the offshore energy sector.

“The experience garnered in cable installation and deployment in the wider offshore wind market is still highly relevant as we install pioneering new devices off our coastlines,” said Steve Bendell, Commercial Manager, MTS.

“We knew that in order to best support James Fisher’s installation work that a reliable surveying platform would be needed. In deploying MTS Xplorer to the project from our Falmouth operation, we were able to provide a vessel and crew with many hours of surveying experience.”

“We welcome further planned device deployments at Wave Hub utilizing the natural resources of the waters around the South West coastline.”

Richard Argall, Director, Mojo Maritime commented, “Here at Mojo Maritime, James Fisher’s local subsidiary, we have developed a successful track record working with MTS over a number of years. Once again, working with MTS has enabled us to employ a local contractor with experience providing specialized vessels in support of our work in the maritime and offshore installation sector. MTS Xplorer and its crew assisted us in keeping our works on time and on-budget, enabling us to ensure a careful and highly competent installation of the project’s associated cable works.”