A New Generation of Trenching

SMD has recently delivered a Q-Trencher 400 telecoms vehicle to United Arab Emirates based company E-Marine. The vehicle is to be installed on the company’s new build CS Maram; E-Marine’s dedicated Submarine Cable Installation and Maintenance Vessel which is currently undertaking dock trials ahead of its maiden voyage later this year.

SMD has supplied E-Marine with the full trenching system, including control system and gantry style telescopic Launch and Recovery System, and has worked closely with E-Marine to integrate the bespoke gantry system into the state-of-the-art cable ship. The Q-Trencher vehicle is rated to 2500m water depth and, with high specification Curvetech thrusters, capable of operations up to 4.0knots.

The last cable maintenance machine of this size was delivered over a decade ago. The Q-Trencher 400 marks a new generation, equipped with SMD’s DVECS IITM advanced vehicle control technology. DVECS II features such as Time Trending, ‘Point to Fault’ and flexibility of the GUI & I/O benefit the pilot, reducing their workload such that operations are performed with increased accuracy and reliability, driving down task based operational costs.

Established in 1984, E-Marine is the principal provider of submarine cable installation and repair solutions in the Middle East and Sub-Continent region; offering services in the field of Marine Project Management and Consultancy, Marine Route Survey, Cable Freight Management Storage and Chartering. Besides the Telecommunication field, E-Marine provides a complete range of solutions to the offshore Oil & Gas Industry. This expansion will help to strengthen E-Marine’s presence in the high growth subsea cable market, and undertake activities to satisfy demand from telecoms and energy sectors.

As a world leading manufacturer of remote intervention equipment, SMD has been building trenching ROVs for two decades. Its product portfolio includes the world’s largest range of subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) such as work-class and specialist trenching vehicles; and its subsea engineering expertise results from over forty years of experience.

Paul Davison, Deputy MD responsible for SMD’s subsea trenching business commented “E-Marine already owns a number of SMD built vehicles, built over a decade ago and its returning custom is testament to our machines’ performance and reliability. We are delighted to be working with E-Marine again and hope to contribute to its continuing success”.

Omar Jassim Bin Kalban, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of E-marine said: “Our commitment to providing cable owners in the region with optimum solutions is significantly enhanced by the installation of the Q-Trencher 400 vehicle on CS Maram. Its ability to work closely with us to develop and install the bespoke gantry LARS made SMD the obvious choice for supply and one that we believe will help to increase our market share in the region. SMD also offers us access to its global customer support network, as well as excellent simulation and training facilities.”