Case

Rental tensioners enable dual offshore cable lay project

Project summary

Caldwell Marine International (Caldwell) successfully completed two nearshore cable lay runs in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, using two 15‑tonne breakback rental tensioners from Royal IHC. With full mobilisation support and on-site crew familiarisation, Caldwell’s team independently operated the tensioners, maintaining schedule efficiency and eliminating the need for equipment changeover.

The challenge: delivering two cable runs under tight timelines

Caldwell was contracted to deliver a major nearshore cable lay project in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, involving two separate cable runs from Falmouth to Martha’s Vineyard Island.

Caldwell required specialist tensioning equipment that could be seamlessly integrated into their cable lay barge and operated independently by their crew. It was also essential to maintain momentum from one cable lay run to the next to avoid delays and ensure completion within the same rental period.

While renting equipment offered flexibility, project success also required:

Consistent tension control for long hybrid cable runs in nearshore conditions
Tensioners capable of tandem operation and supporting varied technical scopes
Ability to independently operate the equipment without ongoing external support

Red and white cable tensioner loaded on the back of an open top tuck in front of a factory, with blue skies behind.

Two red and white cable tensioners lined up on the back of a vessel, with a blue cable carousel in the background. Grey cloudy skies behind.

The solution: two rental tensioners and crew familiarisation

Mobilisation support and crew familiarisation

Royal IHC’s rental services team worked closely with Caldwell to plan and execute the mobilisation of two 15‑tonne breakback tensioners onto the cable lay barge.

Royal IHC operators also spent time delivering on-site crew familiarisation, equipping Caldwell’s team with the knowledge and confidence to operate the tensioners independently from day one.

Two red and white cable tensioners in operation on a vessel deck at night, with snow falling.

Aerial view of a cable lay barge on calm blue waters with the coast in the backgroun

Tandem tensioner operation

The two tracked tensioners were operated simultaneously in a tandem configuration, increasing the cable contact length and improving grip and tension control throughout the cable lay operation. This setup delivered the enhanced control required for the strong current conditions in Vineyard Sound.

Operating well within their 15-tonne capacity and suitable for cable diameters from 50 mm to 400 mm, the tensioners supported both cable runs without the need for equipment changeover or reconfiguration.

The outcome: two successful cable lay runs

By renting two breakback tensioners, Caldwell gained immediate access to high-performance cable lay equipment with operational support tailored to their project needs.

The combination of tandem-ready tensioners, expert mobilisation support, and targeted crew familiarisation, enabled Caldwell to:

Maintain schedule certainty by completing both cable lay runs on time
Avoid equipment changeover, ensuring continuous operations
Operate the equipment independently, reducing reliance on external operators
Maximise rental efficiency within a single hire period