A new code of practice issued by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is intended to improve installation of underwater power cables in offshore wind. The Code of Practice for Offshore Cable Laying in the Renewable Energy Industry (IMCA M264) addresses issues for safe laying and termination of offshore power cables to prevent damage.

Rates of failure in this field result in enormous monetary losses for contractors, developers and insurers. As cables leave the laying vessel and meet the seabed, they are frequently subject to damage caused by over-bending, cable-pulling, and inadequate design of lead into the monopile.

The new code of practice addresses issues such as the laying spread, the interface between the vessel and the spread, and the safest methodology for overboarding, trenching and cable pulling. The document is expected to provide a new baseline for safely laying offshore submarine power cables, which will significantly improve performance.

According to Mark Ford, marine and quality manager at IMCA, “Fixing ongoing challenges around the installation of power cables could bring substantial savings for project and maintenance costs. Research shows that 90% of insurance claims for power cables are due to damage caused during installation, and this new IMCA Code of Practice will help reduce this figure.”