Leading manufacturers of marine and offshore cables
Marine cables – or marine wires – are highly specialised cables built to withstand extremely unforgiving conditions on oil rigs, marine vessels, and other offshore and maritime environments.
Marine and offshore environments can present some of the harshest conditions for electrical equipment, including:
- Extremely high and low temperatures
- Saltwater spray
- Strong waves and wind
- Exposure to oil, mud, water and acid
Here at Custom Designed Cables, our marine cables are built to withstand the toughest maritime conditions and last for many years to come. Our products are manufactured according to strict international standards, as shown by our ISO 9001:2015, UL & CSA approvals, and are resistant to seawater, mud and oil – ensuring optimal performance even in the most challenging environments.
They can be used for a wide range of applications, including communication, signalling, data transfer, power, and process control.
We also design and manufacture custom cables for bespoke projects too, so no matter what you need for your offshore or marine environment, we have the expertise to create the perfect cable solution for you.
If you need something more specific, contact us now to see how we can help with a custom marine cable.
Types of marine cables
Marine electrical cables play a crucial role in the safe and efficient operation of marine vessels, offshore oil rigs, shipyards and much more.
In any maritime or offshore environment where cables will come in contact with seawater, strong winds, mud, oil and other challenging elements, specialised marine and offshore cables are needed for their durability, strength, flexibility and overall effectiveness.
Regular cables and wires would present an electrocution risk in the presence of water, and with seawater in particular, the presence of salt means that regular cables would slowly be corroded until the inner wiring was exposed. To mitigate these risks, marine cables are manufactured with a special water-resistant outer sheath (such as a polyethylene cable jacket) and additional layers of insulation.
In applications where the cable may be exposed to harsh handling and direct impacts, cable armouring may be added too for extra mechanical strength and protection.
Depending on where a marine cable will be used and what its purpose will be, you can choose from a wide variety of marine cable types – or you can design a custom marine cable for more unique and challenging applications.
Different types of marine and offshore cables include:
- Marine power cables – for powering equipment safely and efficiently whilst withstanding environmental pressures such as the presence of seawater.
- Data cables – for transmitting data reliably between equipment in marine and offshore conditions.
- Control cables – for regulating automated equipment processes.
- Marine armoured cables – for use in the harshest marine and offshore environments.
- Marine coaxial cables – for high-frequency electrical signal transmission over long distances.
- Multicore cables – for combining multiple functionalities (such as data, power and control) in one cable, which is very useful for simplifying marine cable installation and offshore cable laying.
Uses for marine cables
Marine cables are used throughout the marine and offshore industry for a wide variety of applications. For example, marine cables can be used for power, communications, data transfer, lighting, navigation, process control, signalling, and much more. Plus, there are unique scenarios that require custom cable solutions or combination cables that blend multiple uses, such as power/signal/data combination cables.
Below, let’s explore the types of environments and scenarios that require marine cables or custom marine cables:
Oil rigs
The most robust and durable marine cables are used in the petroleum production process. For example, the cables used on offshore oil rigs must be highly resistant to extreme temperatures, saltwater, fire and oil.
Marine and shipboard cables
This is a very broad category, covering all kinds of cables used on maritime vessels. In particular, shipboard cables are needed to ensure the efficient functioning of ships and offshore platforms. These cables control communication, signalling, power, instrumentation, data transmission, navigation, radar, and more. Again, they must be water-resistant and corrosion-resistant due to their environment.
Offshore cranes and hoists
In addition to being very resistant to harsh conditions, marine cables often need to be extremely flexible too. This is particularly important for crane and hoist cables, which need to be able to move heavy loads safely and efficiently.
Boat docking and supply
You’ll also find marine cables at docks for docking and boat supply applications. Since these cables will often be submerged, they’ll need to be water and corrosion-resistant, while also being strong and flexible enough to tether vessels and move cargo.
Why choose Custom Designed Cables for marine industry cables?
Looking for high-quality marine cables that will be designed to your exact specifications? Custom Designed Cables should be your first choice.
We pride ourselves on our expertise, attention to detail, excellent customer service and fast turnaround times. As highly experienced marine cable manufacturers, we design, manufacture, test and supply a huge range of marine cables in-house that are guaranteed to last for years to come, ensuring that all of your marine and offshore applications are covered.
Our excellent customer service and fast turnaround times are the cornerstone of the service that we offer. We maintain constant communication with our clients throughout each project to ensure that all products are delivered on time and to the highest quality standard, even for the most challenging deadlines.
In addition to exceptionally fast turnaround times and high-quality cable construction, we offer:
- Full adherence to cable industry standards
- Access to a comprehensive material and component library
- Free consultation and advice
As experts in the design and manufacture of custom marine cables, we can provide tailored advice for any maritime cable project – no matter how extensive or complex it may be. Whether you already have a cable design in mind or need full support from start to finish, contact us today to get a quote for your marine cable requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a cable marine-grade?
Marine-grade cables are specially designed to withstand the pressures of marine and offshore environments, where they will be exposed to seawater, oil, acids, mud, UV rays and more.
Marine cables and wires typically have a water-resistant outer sheath (made from a material like polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride), or are treated with tin coatings to prevent oxidation. In some cases, a layer of cable armouring can also be added to the marine cable to provide extra strength.
When do I need to replace or upgrade marine and offshore cables?
Due to their harsh environment, marine and offshore cables may need to be replaced more often. To ensure both safety and efficiency, cables should be monitored and evaluated regularly to identify faults, such as power failures and decreased performance. Visual inspections can also reveal issues such as wire corrosion and oxidation.
