Barge to Cable Layer Conversion
Scope of Work:
A client required the conversion of a deck barge into a specialized cable-laying vessel. The project involved significant modifications to accommodate new operational capabilities, including:
- New accommodation block to support expanded crew and operational personnel
- A new anchor positioning system to enhance station-keeping during cable-laying operations
- A high pressure water injection perforation system for seabed intervention
- New deck equipment including cable laying tanks, cranes and upgraded electrical system.
The conversion was executed in two phases. The first phase was carried out in China, focusing on the structural and systems integration work. The second phase took place in Italy, where final retrofit and mobilization of equipment were completed.
Buoyanseas Role:
We acted as site supervision across both phases of the project. During the China phase, our primary responsibility was to bridge the basic design—developed by engineering houses in Italy and the UK—into production design and execution at the shipyard. We worked closely with the yard’s production and engineering departments to ensure the design intent was correctly interpreted, managing technical queries and verifying that construction aligned with approved specifications maintaining the quality of the results.
During the Italy phase, we provided site supervision for the retrofit and mobilization works including crane assembly and installation, overseeing the integration of final systems and ensuring a smooth transition from construction to operational readiness.
Outcome: The vessel was successfully commissioned and has since been deployed on cable-laying operations. Our role across both phases ensured continuity of technical oversight, facilitating coordination between design teams and production sites to deliver a complex, multi-location conversion
