Partnership announced between Nexans and Crowley Wind Services for the construction of a cable-lay barge in the U.S.
The partnership between France's cable systems designer and manufacturer, Nexans, and Crowley Wind Services is set to revolutionise the US offshore wind energy, telecommunications, and industrial applications sectors. The duo aims to develop and operate the first-of-its-kind Jones Act-compliant U.S.-flagged cable lay barge [1][2][3][4].
The cable lay barge, built in Louisiana and tested in the U.S. Gulf to Nexans' specifications, is a testament to American ingenuity and expertise. Measuring 300 feet in length, the barge is crewed by American mariners under Crowley’s operation, ensuring compliance with the Jones Act requirements for U.S. flagged vessels and personnel [1][2][3][4].
One of the barge's key features is its 3,500-ton capacity cable carousel for laying and burying subsea cables. The carousel has an option to be upgraded to 7,000 tons by adding a second carousel for bundle cable lay and burial [1][2][3]. This versatility allows the barge to support a wide range of subsea cable laying or repair applications across the US.
The barge is also the first Jones Act-compliant barge to feature vertical injectors, a dynamic positioning system, and a multiple-anchor positioning system. These advanced technologies enable precise and efficient cable placement even in challenging marine conditions [1][2][3]. Burial tools to be used include a vertical injector, a jet sled, and a jetting remotely operated vehicle (ROV) [1][2][3].
The barge, flagged and crewed in the US, is initially targeted to support cable burial for Equinor’s Empire Wind project offshore New York [1][3]. This project underscores the barge's potential to contribute significantly to the employment of US mariners while reinforcing the importance of the Jones Act, which has protected United States national, economic, and homeland security for over a century [5].
Nexans has also secured a major framework agreement with Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) for the design, manufacturing, and supply of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables [6]. However, the agreement does not mention the project's expected contribution to the employment of US mariners or the reinforcement of the Jones Act.
The partnership between Nexans and Crowley Wind Services marks a significant step forward in enhancing U.S. domestic capability for subsea cable installation, supporting the energy transition and critical infrastructure development while complying with U.S. maritime laws [1][2][3][4].
[1] https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/crowley-nexans-to-develop-jones-act-compliant-cable-lay-barge/ [2] https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/crowley-nexans-announce-partnership-for-jones-act-compliant-cable-lay-barge [3] https://www.marinelink.com/news/crowley-nexans-jones-act-compliant-446275 [4] https://www.offshoremag.com/articles/2021/05/crowley-nexans-partnership-to-develop-jones-act-compliant-cable-lay-barge/ [5] https://www.marinelink.com/news/jones-act-protects-us-national-economic-homeland-security-445983 [6] https://www.nexans.com/content/dam/nexans/documents/press-releases/2021/03/nexans-secures-major-framework-agreement-with-rte-for-the-design-manufacturing-and-supply-of-high-voltage-direct-current-hvdc-cables.pdf
- The Jones Act-compliant cable lay barge, developed by Nexans and Crowley Wind Services, enables the team to support a diverse range of subsea cable applications not only in the offshore wind energy sector, but also in telecommunications and industrial sectors within the United States.
- The first-of-its-kind barge, powered by American ingenuity, boasts advanced technologies such as vertical injectors, a dynamic positioning system, and a multiple-anchor positioning system, ensuring precise and efficient cable placement in challenging marine conditions.
- Additionally, Nexans has secured a significant agreement with Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) for the design, manufacturing, and supply of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. This collaboration has the potential to contribute to both the energy transition and the development of critical infrastructure across various industries.
