SBSS Announces the Delivery of Power Cable Installation and Maintenance Barge Fu Yong 6

30 Oct, 2020

In October 2020, S.B. Submarine Systems (SBSS), Asia’s leading provider of submarine cable installation and maintenance solutions, successfully completed sea trials and took delivery of Fu Yong 6, a 5,500t power cable installation and maintenance barge, which is on long-term charter from Zhoushan Yongbo Shipping.

On the 16th of October 2020, the naming and delivery ceremony of Fu Yong 6 was held in Zhoushan Huafeng yard, where the ex-transportation barge was converted into a multi-purpose cable lay barge. Nearly 40 guests from the Chinese offshore wind industry attended the ceremony including representatives from Dejing Group, AVIC Baosheng and the UK Department for International Trade.

Fu Yong 6 Naming and Delivery Ceremony Group Photo

Mr Wufeng Feng, the Chairman of SBSS, gave the opening speech in which he said “SBSS was established in 1995 along with the significant development of Chinese submarine systems.  In the past 25 years, the Chinese and British shareholders have worked closely to position SBSS as the leading provider of submarine cable installation and maintenance solutions both in fibre optic and power cable industry.”

Mr Wufeng Feng, the Chairman of SBSS, gave the opening speech

SBSS Managing Director Mr Simon Hibberd added “This year, SBSS is celebrating 25 years of business as a service provider in the submarine cable industry. Over these 25 years, we have owned, managed, operated and chartered a variety of cable installation and cable maintenance platforms, all of which have been successful in delivering a high quality of service to our diverse customer base. Today is the start of a new chapter for SBSS as we embark on a 36-month program of work specifically in the Chinese windfarm market, installing and deep- burying cables in the East and South China Seas utilizing the barge, and equipment, you will see today.”

Mr Simon Hibberd, the Managing Director of SBSS, delivered the speech

Mrs Chloe Chen, the godmother of Fu Yong 6

Guests visited Fu Yong 6

Fu Yong 6 is a multi-purpose cable lay barge equipped with a 5,500t capacity cable carousel system with high capacity caterpillar track tensioners and a 6-point mooring system. The barge is an ex-transportation pontoon and has been purposely modified by SBSS in 2020 to deliver power cable installation and maintenance works. The barge is designed with grounding capability. SBSS will target the shallow water (up to 100 metres) high-voltage export cable installation market, where such facilities are currently in high demand in the Chinese offshore wind parks.  Fu Yong 6 is also capable of carrying out shallow water Pre Lay Shore End operations in the telecommunications sector.  Fu Yong 6 is equipped with Longli jetting sledge powered by high capacity submersible pumps. In the delivery configuration the Longli sledge will achieve a burial depth of 3.3metres.

Fu Yong 6 left port and started sea trial 

On the 29th October 2020, Fu Yong 6 successfully completed a 12-day period of sea trials, which saw all of her onboard equipment thoroughly tested.  The sea trial also included function and burial testing of the state-of-the-art subsea cable trencher “Water Dragon”, manufactured and owned by CRRC SMD.

CRRC SMD “Water Dragon” sea trial

The investment in Fu Yong 6 showcases SBSS’s commitment to developing the renewable industry in China and the company’s strategical movement into non-telecommunication sectors to achieve sustainable business growth.