A&P Group started work in July on the 1996-built cable layer European Supporter (9,227gt), owned by P&O Maritime Services Australia, a new client for the yard. The Tyne yard will be carrying out conversion work on the cable-laying vessel.
The 106m European Supporter is equipped to perform a wide variety of installation, cable-handling and burial tasks for the offshore renewables, telecommunications and oil and gas sectors. European Supporter can accommodate 5,000 tons of power cable in two static tanks, using a newly installed power cable-loading arm.
Part of the refit work included A&P manufacturing and installing a 7m abrasion-resistant steel chute, from which cables are lowered onto the seabed. Work also included a major overhaul of the generators.
