UK engineering company Osbit is to produce a multi-function pre-lay and backfill subsea plough for cable installation contractor Global Marine.
The tool will be built at Osbit’s offshore base at the port of Blyth and delivered to Global Marine in May for use in the offshore wind sector, Osbit said.
The plough, dubbed Scion 240, is the first to perform both boulder clearance and trenching in a single pass.
The Scion 240 can perform boulder clearance and pre-trench 1.7 metres in a single run, leaving a boulder cleared swathe and a backfill-ready open trench with segregated spoil.
The plough is fully adjustable and features an extensive surveillance suite to monitor cable and trench integrity. It can also be operated in backfill mode to bury cables, Osbit said.
“We are proud to be realising the future of ploughing technology with this technically compelling system… which offers Global Marine Group real differentiation in the market,” Osbit director Robbie Blakeman said.
“Our team of in-house engineers, working closely with Osbit, developed this solution, which delivers not only for our significant inaugural project, but also for the long-term,” Global Marine director of engineering Martyn Drye added.