Posted to News on 12th Oct 2026, 15:30
Cable carriers for offshore applications
Offshore plants run in extreme conditions. Wind, waves, corrosion and highly dynamic movements put the systems involved to the test around the clock. TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP is meeting these challenges with decades of engineering expertise and a cable carrier portfolio that can be tailored precisely to these challenging conditions.
Cable carriers have a critical safety function on oil rigs, on production vessels and in maritime handling facilities. They reliably carry energy, data and media even in the most difficult conditions, including in top-drive systems, crane systems, thruster systems, winches or pipe handling. Unplanned downtime is associated with substantial economic and safety impact, in particular in offshore situations.
The requirements for cable carriers are as varied as the applications themselves. Different motion profiles, high additional loads and complex kinematics are made even more difficult by restricted installation spaces. This all is further compounded by dynamic forces due to permanent platform movements in all three axes. TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP develops individual solutions for these applications, from unsupported or gliding systems to roller carriers for extended travel lengths or circular arrangements in rotating applications. Metool Products, a KABELSCHLEPP subsidiary, serves as the industry partner for the UK market. With decades of experience in the offshore sector, the company has supplied cable management systems for hundreds of offshore projects.
The selection of materials is of particular importance here. All components are permanently exposed to salty air, UV radiation, wind, sea spray and strong temperature fluctuations. TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP therefore chooses materials selected for the specific applications, such as stainless steel in A4 quality, seawater-resistant aluminium alloys and special technical plastics for underwater applications.
Comprehensive factory acceptance tests
The highest safety standards also apply to the design of offshore systems. Secured threaded connections, redundant fastening and comprehensive factory acceptance tests (FATs) are a part of all projects. In addition, the cable carrier systems are designed for optimum protection during transport to the offshore plant. The special transport frames subsequently become an integral component of the final structure.
In addition to mechanical and climate impact, a number of international directives and standards have to be taken into account, depending on the plant type and location. All development work at TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP is therefore based on close cooperation with the customer and each project focuses on the specific application at hand.
Condition monitoring gains importance
Durability and robustness play a crucial role in the design of offshore plants. As there are limitations to how accurately the loads can be predicted, TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP deliberately takes a conservative approach to configuring the cable carriers for these applications and applies the highest safety factors. Additionally, condition monitoring is becoming increasingly important to identify load changes early on and to plan condition-based maintenance.
"More than 70 years ago, we invented the steel cable carrier," Jurgen Weichel, Industry Manager at TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP, summarises. "Based on these decades of experience, we can now derive a suitable solution for any application from a very broad portfolio. Our colleagues have a vast store of knowledge and are particularly strong in the development of customised solutions, which are par for the course when it comes to offshore plants."
