Offshore cable specialists: getting the hang of things

Vos Prodect Innovations applies extensive offshore experience to the support of sustainable energy production. The company is a pioneer in the field of cable hang-off systems and other cable accessories for the offshore industries. Over the last 60 years the company has constantly reinvented itself in the face of shifting market demands and industry trends.

In recent years, the VPI’s engineering specialists have continued to develop the company’s Hang-Off System (HOS). This highly efficient system is designed to secure medium and high voltage power cables to the top of a foundation or cable deck on a monopile, jacket or rig.

The VPI HOS utilizes both temporary and permanent hang-off clamps that are operated independently, thereby separating cable operations. The HOS secures the electricity cable during subsea installation and securely locks it afterwards.

The system, explains VPI CEO Marc Derks, has proven itself time and again. “Even during the initial development of the HOS we performed load tests under the observation of Germanischer Lloyd (the classification society now merged with Det Norske Veritas to form DNV GL). These tests clearly demonstrated the system’s capabilities and abilities to meet the requirements of an offshore wind farm project.”

One of the main benefits of the HOS, says Marc, is its simplicity. “Experience has taught us that an easy installation is crucial. It saves precious time offshore, leading to reduced installation time and considerable cost savings .

“The VPI HOS offers a very straightforward installation. In fact, the average installation takes just 45 minutes and even inexperienced users are able to install it in under an hour.”

To assist those less familiar with the system, VPI offers preliminary installation support and training days, to provide users with firsthand experience of assembly and installation.

“It’s not only speed that counts of course,” Marc states. “Quality is also very important. As a company we have a desire to continually improve our solutions and services. Therefore, we have developed the next generation of hang-off systems – the HOS 2.1. This has been extensively tested and re-designed following results. It incorporates a number of innovations and represents a lengthy and robust process of evolution. The final result is something totally aligned with market demands.”

VPI has also developed a low, 250 mm version of the HOS 2.1 for use in the low space environment of the cable deck.

Like all VPI’s products, its HOS solutions undergo continual, vigorous quality and conformity checks and extensive testing, both at VPI’s own on-site facility and at third party locations.

VPI also offers a complete system that includes both the HOS and the company’s Cable Protection System (CPS). The complete system has been tested and installed at project locations all over the world, as Marc explains.

“The CPS provides bend restriction and impact protection. It also serves to stabilize subsea power cables. At the same time, the HOS secures and locks the electricity cable during installation to the offshore platform. Having witnessed the performance of the systems combined, we feel very confident in stating this is a system that is proven effective for offshore projects.”

VPI has undertaken over 150 projects all over the world. From its beginnings the company has served both the telecom sector and the oil & gas industry. More recently, VPI has been turning its experience towards the support of the offshore renewables arena.

“At VPI we are very proud of the contribution made by our products to the production of sustainable energy at offshore wind farm locations,” concludes Marc. “We are also proud of the collaborations and partnerships we have all over the world that have contributed to the development of these products. Together we are working towards the creation of a greener world for everyone.”

Note: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Offshore WIND.