IMCA reports industry loses millions due to subsea cable failures

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has released a new code of practice for offshore cable laying in the renewable energy industry. The code aims to address the significant issue of subsea cable failure in offshore wind projects, which has resulted in costs of over £500 million ($658 million) in 2020 alone. The average insurance claim for cable failure is worth over £3 million ($3.9 million), and there is an estimated 30% failure rate each year. The code provides guidelines for the safe laying and termination of offshore power cables to prevent damage caused by over-bending, cable-pulling, and inadequate design. It also establishes a new baseline for the safe laying of offshore submarine power cables.

Mark Ford, Marine & Quality Manager with IMCA, stated that 90% of insurance claims are made for power cables damaged during installation. The new code of practice will help contractors reduce this figure by sharing experiences and providing solutions for cable laying. The code covers various aspects of cable laying, including the design, testing, operation, and maintenance of cable laying equipment and technology. It also addresses the interface between vessels and cable laying systems and provides guidelines for overboarding, trenching, and cable pulling.

The IMCA Code of Practice for offshore cable laying is available for download to IMCA members. The code is expected to significantly improve performance in the offshore wind industry by promoting safe practices and reducing the risk of cable failure.

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