The 2001-built Cable Laying and Repair Vessel Normand Clipper underwent a major conversion in 2005 to a deepwater subsea construction and umbilical lay DP vessel.

Having been acquired by Global Marine Group, provider of engineering and underwater services, sje was deployed to support cable lay operations within the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors.

Global Offshore, part of the Global Marine Group, were recently awarded a contract for cable installation and burial of the Pentland Firth East submarine cable, a new 35km 33kV power cable which will connect mainland Scotland to Hoy.

Royal IHC were appointed as main contractor for the extensive conversion and upgrade of the vessel for this assignment.

The works included  five winches ranging from 2.5t to 20t, some with Anti Heave compensation; an integrated deck control station; two 15-tonne cable tensioners; a 25-tonne quadrant deployment frame with associated steel work; and a fully integrated control system, all to be completed while the ship was berthed in the Port of Blyth.

Having worked successfully with Global Marine Group over the years, CFS were approached by main contractor, Royal IHC, to fabricate and install a number of strategic structural equipment on the vessel.

CFS undertook the work in two days, including the fabrication, painting and finishing of No Overboard Chutes, Deck Support tables for 2No Chutes, Roller Tables, CPS Tables, Quadrant Deployment Rail System, and Overboard Quadrant, with CFS fabricating and installing over 100 tonnes of fabricated class approved steel components.

CFS delivered this project during the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic; ensuring complete safety of their team and of their stakeholders, no mean feat when considering the operational challenges experienced by the industry during the crisis.

CFS will carry out further modifications on Normand Clipper when she returns to the Port of Blyth after completion of her second assignment installing a power cable across the Pentland Firth Strait.