The latest development addresses a longstanding challenge for cable installation contractors operating in nearshore and shallow-water environments, where conventional USBL acoustic positioning systems can become less effective and ROV operations may be constrained by environmental or operational factors. The new configuration incorporates a GNSS positioning pod mounted on the CableFish Survey Head, enabling accurate touchdown positioning while maintaining continuous monitoring of cable behavior throughout the installation process.
The shallow-water solution forms part of a wider expansion program that is extending the CableFish platform into new applications and markets as demand grows for real-time cable monitoring and installation assurance across the offshore energy and telecommunications sectors.
BUILDING ON PROVEN MONITORING TECHNOLOGY
CableFish has become an established cable touchdown monitoring solution, providing installation teams with real-time visibility of cable behavior and seabed interaction during offshore cable-lay operations.
As part of the ongoing development program, North Sea Systems has also expanded CableFish to support fiber-optic cable installation projects. Designed for cable diameters from 20 mm to 100 mm, the system can provide telecom cable operators with real-time touchdown monitoring, route awareness, and comprehensive installation records, applying lessons learned from offshore power cable projects to the telecommunications sector.
Another recent innovation is CableViewer, a real-time cable visualization capability that presents operators with an intuitive graphical view of the cable as it approaches the seabed. By displaying the cable against key installation parameters in real time, CableViewer allows installation teams to identify developing issues early and take corrective action before they escalate. The system also creates a comprehensive digital record of cable lay operations for developers, asset owners, and underwriters.
NSS has additionally developed a larger CableFish variant specifically engineered for bundled HVDC cable installation. The new design incorporates features intended to prevent snagging and minimize interaction with the yarn used to secure bundled cable assemblies, supporting the growing deployment of high-capacity HVDC transmission infrastructure.
Dave Rigg, Managing Director of North Sea Systems, said: “The offshore cable sector continues to face increasing pressure to improve installation efficiency, reduce risk, and maintain accurate records throughout the cable-lay process. These latest developments extend CableFish into new operational environments and applications, from shallow-water projects and fiber-optic cable installation through to bundled HVDC systems. At the same time, innovations such as CableViewer are giving operators a clearer understanding of what is happening at the touchdown point in real time. Our focus is on providing installation teams with practical tools that improve operational awareness, support better decision-making, and help protect high-value cable assets throughout installation.”
The expanded CableFish portfolio will be showcased by North Sea Systems at forthcoming industry events, where operators, developers, and installation contractors will be able to learn more about the latest developments and their application across offshore wind, interconnector, telecommunications, and HVDC cable projects.
