Kokusai Cable Ship Places Contract with SMD for Plough A-Frame and Twin Self-fleeting Drum Cable Lay System

Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) are pleased to announce the signature of a contract with Kokusai Cable Ship Co. (KCS) for the design and manufacture of cable lay equipment and a plough A-frame, to be installed on KCS’s new purpose-built cable laying vessel.



SMD will produce two self-fleeting drum cable engines, complete with an integrated control system, at their facilities in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The company’s dedicated Deck Equipment business unit will undertake the project as specialists in the design and manufacture of cable handling solutions, launch and recovery systems and winch packages.

Delivery of the equipment will take place in Summer 2018 to Port Colombo in Sri Lanka. SMD’s scope of supply includes the two electrically-driven self fleeting drum cable engines (DCE), draw-off / hold-back (DOHB) engines, electric drive and control system, deck and bridge console, two cable transporters, and the latest cable management software. In addition, SMD will supply a 50te SWL A-Frame for plough operations.

The drum cable engines will feature a unique and patented self-fleeting mechanism, which employs a cam-driven arrangement of moving staves to fleet the cable. This innovation removes the use of knives, greatly reducing cable wear.

Paul Hatchett, Managing Director of Deck Equipment & Curvetech™ at SMD remarked, “KCS and SMD have a long-standing relationship dating back to the supply of cable engines in 1996 and 2001. We have worked closely with KCS and their vessel design and build partners to develop the best cable handling solution for their new vessel. This project further underlines the partnership between our companies and we look forward to working with and supporting KCS for many more years to come.”

KCS commented “Since 1992, when SMD provided their PLOW and A-FRAME to KCS, our cooperative relationship has grown from strength to strength. We are very glad to be installing SMD's excellent cable handling equipment onto our brand-new vessel, which is expected to be ready for service in 2019”.
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With an impressive track record in supplying deck equipment, SMD’s engineering has been instrumental in the safe launch and recovery of subsea assets for forty years. SMD’s Deck Equipment unit provides in-house engineering, assembly and test facilities to ensure the quality and reliability of every product. We use our knowledge and experience, working alongside customers to design and deliver the best solutions for their vessels.

In order to fully support KCS with the successful deployment of the equipment, SMD are also providing a comprehensive Services package including installation support, training of technical and operations staff, and flexible spares support.

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK