Introduction

The use of a Cut and Hold grapnel can significantly enhance marine repair operations when locating and recovering the first cable end, particularly in deeper waters on Lightweight cable variants. Current estimates have determined a minimum of 18 hours can be saved; in practice this could be considerably more.

Ocean Cable Technologies introduce the first deep sea cut and hold grapnel capable of recovering a cable from depths of up to 9000m. The cut and hold grapnel has been designed to locate, cut and recover all LW and LWP cables currently in use. Capable of being able to hold the cable up to and beyond its NTTS value, regardless of size or strength, ensures the cable is retrieved effectively to the surface and the risk of the cable end being lost during recovery is minimal.

The System

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The Ocean Cable Technologies cut and hold grapnel utilises the energy derived from the vessels tow cable as the power source. This means the design is purely mechanical with no electrical or hydraulic devices to go wrong.

Other benefits of the Ocean Cable Technologies cut and hold grapnel:

● Can be used on cable system with or without slack:

● Side of cut can be pre-selected

● Cable can be cut close to BU or Repeater unit

● Cable can be recovered up to NTTS value

● Cable cut with minimal movement from initial position on sea bed means cable is not stressed prior to recovery

● Remaining cable end remains close to original position and easier to find

● Capital outlay could be recovered within one or two cable operations

 

Cables Qualified or under Qualification ASN OALC4 LW ASN OALC4 LWP STC NL Tyco SL17mm Pirelli 18mm LWP OCC SC300 LWP OCC SC100 LWP Siemens Minisub LW	Gripping Device Test Criteria Tensile Test to NTTS 1 hour Tensile Test to NTTS through 90deg 1 hour Tensile Test to Failure Tensile Test to Failure through 90deg 12hour at NTTS Full depth recovery test All tests repeated in salt water, sand, mud, gravel, grease and oil
Dimensions Length……………………….2300mm Width………………………...1000mm Height (excluding tine)……..360mm Depth (including tine)……….880mm	Physical Properties Maximum tensile strength………...15 tonne Activation load………………………Variable 0.3-2.0 tonne Break out load………………………10 tonne Weight………………………………..2 tonne