WHERE IN THE WORLD

ARE THOSE PESKY CABLESHIPS?

BY REBECCA SPENCE

Before you do anything else today, check out the new online cable map! Why you ask? Simple, we have completely revamped our map to showcase a much larger scope of the data we have worked so hard to collect over the last several years on the Submarine Cable Industry as a whole. I go into much more detail in the online map article on page 10 but it sure does feel like Christmas in July. My personal favorite feature is the ability to track the global cableship fleet in real-time AND to filter to see vessel history over time! Please go check it out for yourself, you’re going to love it.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming, the fleet sure has been busy the last two months. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) increased from 43 to 49 percent of reported activity since May. The Ile de Batz spent the entire analyzed timeframe in the EMEA region accomplishing the installation and landing of 2Africa in Berbera. Accompanied in the region by the Ile de Sein who landed Equiano in Sesimbra Portugal at the end of May. Austral Asia also saw a drastic increase in activity as it had 18 percent of vessel AIS reported in May, jumping to 38 percent over the last two months. Much of this activity from the Reliance who landed the Oman Australia Cable in Barka Oman at the beginning of May.

The Americas has half as much activity dropping to 9 percent from 21 percent and the Indian Ocean region stayed steady at 9 percent. The small decline in activity in the Transpacific of 7 percent to 2 percent was expected as Southern Cross NEXT finished marine installation. Per their most recently announcement, SCN should be in service the week before this issue of SubTel Forum Magazine is published, so keep an eye out for that if it hasn’t happened already.

Speaking of Southern Cross NEXT, after finishing her piece of the marine installation in May, the Ile De Re traveled to Singapore to dry dock where she has spent the last month and a half getting some much needed care. Image Credit goes to Steve Onley for posting this great picture of her out of the water!

Ile de Re

The big news from France came on June 24, when Alcatel Submarine Networks inaugurated their new cable maintenance vessel the Ile de Molène. She will focus primarily on maintenance and repairs in the Atlantic and North Sea. I can’t wait to see what sister, the Ile de Sein, will look like when she is finished in a few months after her retrofit is finished. She will be utilized as a cable laying vessel, which is a much needed addition.

Figure 2: OMS Cable Vigilence

Another conversion in the works is happening currently at the Remontowa Shipyard in Poland. OMS is currently converting a new repair and cable laying vessel the Cable Vigilance. Per their LinkedIn post at the end of June, Seatech Engineering Ltd have already begun the work to retrofit the. The future specs describe her as “a fully equipped cable ship with integrated cable tanks, cable machinery, jointing and testing rooms and has its own dedicated ROV and plough capabilities once completed.” It is so nice to see that the fleet is finally getting the growth focus it desperately needs.

Cable Retriever

This month’s favorite image goes to this night view of Global Marine’s Cable Retriever which spent the last two months sailing in the South China Sea. Photo credit goes to of Andy Caña for the great shot. It is always night to see these pictures shared as the vessels make their way around the world, please keep sharing them and connect with me on LinkedIn if you want me to share your pictures in the mag! I hope you take a look at the new online cable map we released this morning!

Please reach out if you have questions or tag @subtelforum on social media so we can see your fantastic pictures! Safe travels. STF

Rebecca Spence

REBECCA SPENCE is the Project Manager from Submarine Telecoms Forum. Rebecca possessed more than 10 years’ experience as an analyst and database manager, including for the small business division of prominent government contractor, General Dynamics IT. She is a regular contributor to SubTel Forum Magazine and is based out of Hillsborough, North Carolina USA.