Projects : Power Cables : Baltic Cable Project
This link, with the accompanying electrode cables and converter stations, transmits electrical energy between Arrie (Sweden) and Lübeck (Germany) in both directions. The contract for the manufacturing of both the HVDC and the electrode cable, as well as the cable laying, was awarded to ABB High Voltage Cables AB of Sweden by Baltic Cable AB, a cooperation between several Swedish and German power companies.
A part of the works was executed by Five Oceans Services for ABB. This concerned the transportation of the HVDC cable to Arrie and the installation of the HVDC and the electrode cable in the Trave River between Lübeck and Travemünde (Germany). Five Oceans Services' activities involved designing and manufacturing of cable storage and cable handling equipment, fitting out a shallow draught cable installation barge specially designed for the project, loading the cables at the ABB factory, offloading the HVDC cable, simultaneously laying both the HVDC and electrode cable in the Trave River, the determination of the as-laid positions of the cables and performing a Directional Drilling across the Trave River.
Following the 1993 submarine cable installation in the Trave River
(Germany), ABB High Voltage Cables AB of Sweden granted another contract
for the installation of a submarine electrode cable in the Baltic Sea
near the German coast during the spring of 1994.
This cable was to be connected to an electrode station off the coast of
Germany. It had to be installed at a fixed distance of 2.5 m from the
HVDC cable which links Sweden and Germany, over a length of approx. 15
km.
From this point, the electrode cable deviates from the HVDC cable in an
easterly direction over a length of 7 km to link up with the electrode
station.
Five Oceans Servicess activities involved fitting out a shallow draught
cable installation barge with cable storage and cable handling
equipment, loading the electrode cable at the ABB factory, transporting
it to Germany, pulling it ashore through excavated trenchers towards the
jointing station on the Priwall peninsula (near Travemunde, Germany),
and the actual laying of the cable in the Baltic Sea.
| Characteristics of the Cables: | ||||
| Type of Cable | : | HVDC Power Cable | Electrode Cable | Electrode Cable |
| Total Length | ||||
| Swedish part | : | 5 km | - | - |
| German part | : | 12 km | 12 km | 22 km |
| Outer Diameter | : | 130 mm | 95 mm | 95 mm |
| Weight (in air) | :
|
55 kg/m | 24 kg/m | 24 kg/m |
| Min. Bend. Rad. | : | 5 m | 2 m | 2 m |
In order to successfully complete the Baltic Cable Power Link, Five Oceans Services utilized specialized cable equipment. The equipment utilized included, but was not limited to:
- Cable loading equipment
- Cable lay equipment
- Cable trenching equipment
In addition to the above, dedicated support equipment such as high accurate positioning systems (DGPS and USBL), as well as typical inspection and monitoring equipment ensured that a high level of confidence was achieved and maintained throughout the project.
