Performance of subsea mechanical trenching systems
Performance of subsea mechanical trenching systems
The growth of offshore renewable power generation and sharing of power between countries has led to a significant increase in the length of cables to be buried into the seabed over the last 20 years. Burial is particularly difficult in glacial till deposits which contain cobbles and boulders, and weak rocks. However achieving burial in these materials can be key to cable protection and is preferred to rock placement with consequent increased environmental and cost impact. The generally preferred solution is use of a mechanical cutter to form a trench. This paper indicates how performance prediction models can be developed on a machine specific basis and also some of the practical aspects to consider when selecting a mechanical cutter for a project.
Peter G. Allan
5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)
16 - Trenching, ploughing, excavation and burial
https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-353
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