Global Marine Group (GMG) has signed a multi-million pound framework agreement for cable repair with offshore pace-setter Orsted, covering inter-array cable replacement and repairs of the utility’s UK offshore wind farms.
The deal, which is supported by GMG’s Global Marine, Global Offshore and CWind units, becomes part if the Atlantic Cable Maintenance Agreement (ACMA), a non-profit cooperative that allows for shared services of vessels to enable cost effective and fast cable replacement and repair for all members, largely in telecoms and oil and gas.
“As we construct more and more offshore wind farms, we must work with other seabed users, such as the telecoms industry, to find solutions that work for all,” said Benj Sykes, UK country manager for Orsted’s offshore activities.
“Thanks to the [UK offshore wind industry’s] sector deal, by 2030, around a third of our electricity could come from offshore wind.”
Orsted will be the first renewable energy member of ACMA, bringing in almost 900KM of subsea array cables from its UK offshore wind farm portfolio.
“Many of our wind farm sites operate in close proximity to telecoms cables already installed on the seabed, so we are delighted to sign this framework agreement with GMG, which has experience of working with both fibre optic and power cables,” Sykes said.
“By joining ACMA we will also benefit from the depth of their collective resources, bringing cost-effective and rapid repairs for our UK cables, and ultimately helping to bring down the cost of offshore wind.”
GMG chief executive Ian Douglas said the agreement will be a blueprint for future deals on combined cable and subsea assets.
Alasdair Wilkie, Chairman at ACMA commented: “ACMA is a non-profit co-operative subsea maintenance agreement consisting of 60+ organisations in the Atlantic, North Sea and South Eastern Pacific Ocean.”
“We’ve worked successfully with Global Marine for many years to address the needs of our members and are looking forward to sharing our best-practice within telecoms to help forge the future of power cable maintenance.”
