NKT Launches Integrated Monitoring Platform for Offshore and Onshore Cables
Denmark-headquartered power cable manufacturer and installation company NKT has introduced a new integrated monitoring platform designed to protect offshore and onshore cables and ensure their continuous operation by detecting and addressing potential threats, including fishing accidents and intentional damage.
The platform is suitable for both offshore and onshore cables equipped with fiber optics. By integrating multiple sensors and technologies, it offers a comprehensive overview of power cable conditions, with the goal of enhancing the reliability of power cable grids, according to NKT.
It aggregates data from various sensors and technologies, such as vessel location, acoustic sensing around the cable, cable burial depth under the seabed, and conductor temperature. This integration enables the platform to detect suspicious activities, including slow-moving vessels, fishing equipment or anchors in close proximity to the cable, and other potential risks that could result in cable damage.
When certain parameters exceed predetermined thresholds, the platform generates alerts, enabling operators to take necessary actions and bolster the grid’s resilience, NKT explained.
The monitoring solution also provides cable owners with detailed insights into cable performance, documentation, data from marine surveys, spare parts inventory status, and notifications for parts requiring replacement.
“Our new cable monitoring platform represents a significant advancement in ensuring the reliability and safety of power cables. By integrating multiple sensors into a single platform, we can provide situational awareness and proactive monitoring, which is crucial for maintaining uptime and preventing damage,” said Stefan Persson, Director of Cable Monitoring Solutions, Service & Installation at NKT.
“Our solution enhances the ability to monitor and safeguard power cables but also helps cable owners prepare for and mitigate potential failures. Reducing outage times for a cable includes readiness in case a critical situation occurs. On a practical level, it can be crucial that the cable owner has access to relevant spare parts if a cable is damaged.”
The system leverages data from distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed temperature sensing (DTS), automatic identification system (AIS), and depth of burial (DoB) to generate alerts based on multiple data points, ensuring comprehensive monitoring and protection of power cables.