Cable Repair Ship - T-ARC
The Cable Repair Ship performs maintenance on the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) which is a network of strategically placed sonar sensors that provide early warning of submarines. The T-ARC class is capable of laying and retrieving deep water acoustic cables, and is also capable of supporting oceanographic research.
USNS Zeus is the only active Cable Repair Ship in the U.S. Navy. ZEUS is the first multi-mission cable ship designed and built by the U.S. Navy specifically as a cable ship. It incorporates advanced propulsion features, centralized integrated displays for monitoring ship and cable machinery parameters and functions, passive flume stabilization, better maneuverability and cable handling capabilities at both bow and stern, and survey equipment designed to combine high performance and versatility with minimal maintenance.
Main propulsion is diesel-electric (5 GM diesels), rated horse power is
10,000 (5,000 to each of two shafts), 5 main generators (GE), and 4 motor generators.
ZEUS combines the main propulsion system with bow and stern-mounted tunnel thrusters
in an integrated control system which provides the precise trackkeeping and position
holding capabilities required for cable laying and repair, array laying operations, projector
towing, acoustic surveys, and other mission tasks. Application of roll dampening
techniques enable the ship to provide a stable platform for safe cable operations at slow
speeds up to the maximum permissible sea states specified for each mission.
The Military Sealift Command operates ships manned by civilian crews and under the command
of a civilian master. These ships, indicated by the blue and gold bands on their stack, are
"United States Naval Ships" vice "United States Ships" as is the case of commissioned ships.
USNS ZEUS is fitted with a wide array of cable handling equipment including 5
cable tanks, cable transporters, DO-HB tension machines, self fleeting cable drums,
overboarding sheaves, and dynamometer cable fairleader. The secondary mission of
the USNS ZEUS is Oceanographic Survey. USNS ZEUS is fitted with both single
beam and multi-beam (SIMRAD EM 121) sonars for bottom profiling and can
deploy towed sidescan sonars and camera sleds. CTD systems and deployed Acoustic
Measurement Buoys (AMB) and Environmental Measurement Buoys (EMB) provide
data measurement of the ocean environment.
In a major initiative to harden deployed systems, the USNS ZEUS will be fitted with
a Heavy Overboarding System (HOS). The HOS is a 32.5 metric ton A-frame
designed and built by Soil Machine Dynamics, Ltd.. This system is designed to
handle and deploy the CRS I & II, free swimming Remotely Operated Vehicles
(ROVs), the Sea Tractor, a bottom crawler, and the Sea Plow.
General Characteristics, USNS Zeus
| Shipbuilder
| National Steel & Shipbuilding
|
|
| Year completed/Location
| 1984/San Diego, CA
|
| LOA
| 513'02"
|
| Breadth (max)
| 73'
|
| Draft (max)
| 25'11 3/4"
|
| Nav Draft
| 27'9 3/4"
|
| Displacement, FL (tons)
| 14,335
|
| Displacement, LL (tons)
| 8,600
|
| Max HT above keel
| 112'
|
| Max Speed
| 15kts
|
| Endurance
| 10,000 nm
|
| Crew:
| 88 civilian and 6 military and 30 technical
|
Cable Repair Systems (CRS I & II)
The Cable Repair Systems (CRS I & II) are free swimming, remotely operated
vehicles. They are controled through a fiber optic umbilical to
a Tether Management System (TMS). A neutrally bouyant tether allows
the CRS to operate freely within a 600 foot radius of the TMS.
In addition to the installed control and navigation systems, the
CRSs are fitted with jetting skids to assist in trenching and
cable burial. The systems are mission portable. They can be airlifted
and deployed from vessels as small as ocean tugs.
Specifications:
- MODEL: CRS, based on HYDRA AT 1850
- SERIAL #: CRS I and CRS II
- MANUFACTURER: Oceaneering International, Inc.
- OPERATING DEPTH: 6000 feet
- DIMENSIONS (LxWxH) (FT) 10 x 6 x 6
- TETHER MANAGEMENT ASSEMBLY (LxWxH):10 x 5 x 6
- WEIGHT IN AIR: Vehicle - 9000 lbs (13000 lbs w/TMS &
Jetter)
- SPEED: Max Operating Current 5 kts
- STRUCTURE: Syntactic foam atop an open frame of t6061 aluminum
members. Stainless steel fixtures.
- BUOYANCY CONTROL: Vehicle is positively buoyant. Depth
is controlled by thrusters. Payload: 91kg
- POWER REQUIREMENTS: 460VAC, 3-phase, 60hz
- PROPULSION: Six hydraulic thrusters, two forward/reverse,
two vertical, two lateral. Forward thrust: 154kg: reverse thrust:
111kg.
- INSTRUMENTATION: Vehicle: Two TV cameras (Osprey OE1323
SIT B &W or OE1361 color video) on pan/tilt device. Scanning
sonar (Mesotech Model 971). Manipulators ((2) 7 function Magnum
1000, spacially correspondant). Depth sensor (Ametek 258). TMA:
TV camera (Osprey CCD OE1360A) on pan/tilt device, five 250W lights
(Remote Ocean Systems QL3000). Tools: Jetting Skid; Shear cutters
for wire rope and soft line; wire gripper.
- NAVIGATION: Fluxgate magnetic compass: ORE Track Point
II or Nautronics acoustic tracking system.
- SHIPBOARD COMPONENTS: Control console, hydraulic power
unit, surface handling system (DYNACON).
- OPERATING/MAINTENANCE CREW:Varies
- REMARKS: The US Navy ROV systems are optimized for under
sea cable repair and burial.
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Sea Tractor
The Sea Tractor is a 250 HP underwater system for the burial of cable in a
wide range of bottom conditions using a dedicated set of cable burial tools. The Sea
Tractor System is designed to be launched and recovered from the beach, from the deck
of a dedicated ship using the Heavy Overboarding System (HOS), or from a suitable
vehicle of opportunity (VOO) with an adequate handling system. The Sea Tractor is
designed to perform the following tasks: (1) Locate and track cable, (2) Visually inspect
cable, (3) Bury cable in a variety of soil conditions, (4) Bury in-line repeaters, (5) Assist in
cable retrieval, (6) Cut or move cable.
Specifications:
- MODEL: Sea Tractor Mk I Mod 0
- MANUFACTURER: Oceaneering Technologies Inc
- OPERATING DEPTH: 4900 feet
- DIMENSIONS (LxWxH)(FT): 11 x 17 x16
- WEIGHT IN AIR: Vehicle - 37,500,
- SPEED: Max Surface - 3000 m/hr
- STRUCTURE: Steel pontoon/track system by Quality Engineering.
Steel Frame. Manipulator arm, composed of a seven function modified
HIAB Model 80 Seacrane, with a lift rating of 9000 lbs at 1.8m
and 2380 lbs at 7m.
- BUOYANCY CONTROL: Track foot print supports operations
in 14 kpa soil. Payload: 8,800-13,200 lb
- POWER REQUIREMENTS: 460VAC, 3-phase, 60hz
- PROPULSION: Two 125 hp Sunstar/Rexroth hydraulic power
units driving two 40 hp hydraulic motors for tracks and two Hydrovision
Curvetech HS300 thrusters for rotation in the water column.
- TOOLS/INSTRUMENTATION: Five TV cameras ((4)Simrad Osprey
Nighthawk ICCD-W & (1)Simrad Osprey TV 3500-6) with two each,
250W lights (Remote Ocean Systems QL 3000). Scanning sonar (UDI
Sonavision 4000 200 Khz). Depth sensor (Simrad 807). Magnetic
cable tracker (Innovatum Multi-Tracker Ultra). Tools: Shear cutters;
wire gripper; Jetter ((2) High pressure and (6) Low pressure nozzles,
(2) Fybroc series Low Pressure Water Pumps 500 gpm @ 80psi, (3)Hotsy
Series 2000 High Pressure Water Pumps 10 gpm @1250 psi) Cable
Burial - Depth variable to 1m, Width variable 150-500mm; Chain
Cutter (Ditch Witch Model 710 modified for subsea use. Cable Burial
- Depth variable to 2.2m, Width 200mm); Rock Cutter (Ditch Witch
Model 840 modified for subsea use), Cable Burial - Depth variable
to 1.1m, Width 150mm
- NAVIGATION: Fluxgate magnetic compass (KVH); Track Point
II or Nautronics acoustic tracking system.
- SHIPBOARD COMPONENTS: Control console, HPU/Levelwind/Winch,
surface handling system (Heavy Overboarding System).
- OPERATING/MAINTENANCE CREW: Varies
- REMARKS: The US Navy Sea Tractor systems are optimized
for under sea cable burial.
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Sea Plow
The U.S.Navy operates a standard SMD model SCP1 cable plow. This
plow uses a patented burial method which ensures that the cable has optimum protection
beneath an almost undisturbed seabed in which the soil retains most of its strength. The
plow can trench to 1100mm in a range of soil types. It is remotely operated from a control
van on the surface vessel. The control van and the plow are linked via a small diameter,
fiber optic umbilical which allows very long transmission lengths.
- MODEL: Sea Plow SCP 1
- MANUFACTURER: Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd.
- OPERATING DEPTH: 1500m
- DIMENSIONS (LxWxH): 900cm x 460cm x 380cm
- WEIGHT IN AIR: Vehicle - 14000kg,
- SPEED OF OPERATION: Tow speeds up to 1.5km/hour in most
soil conditions
- STRUCTURE: Fabricated from high strength steel. Max pull
at plow 50 tones. Burial depth: 0 - 1000 mm. Cable size 20 - 125mm
. Repeaters up to 380mm
- Steering +/- 12 degrees. Tow force 10 - 50 metric tons
- BUOYANCY CONTROL: NA; Soil strengths 10 - 100 kPa. Will
float on 5 kPa.
- POWER REQUIREMENTS: 460VAC, 3-phase, 60hz
- PROPULSION: Towed by surface vessel
- INSTRUMENTATION: Three TV cameras (Simrad Osprey OE 1324
SIT) with five 150W lights (Birns SOR II). Two of the cameras
are mounted on electrically powered subsea pan and tilt units
(Osprey OE 1148) at the front and rear of the plow. Scanning sonar
(Mesotech 971-1 200m). Depth sensor (Mesotech 807 30m). Hydrophone
(Benthos AQ17).
- NAVIGATION: Fluxgate magnetic compass(KVH C 100): Track
Point II or Nautronics acoustic tracking system.
- SHIPBOARD COMPONENTS: Control van, hydraulic power unit,
Tow winch, Umbilical winch, surface handling system (Heavy Overboarding
System).
- OPERATING/MAINTENANCE CREW: Four
- REMARKS: NA.
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Sources and Methods
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/t-arc.htm
Created by John Pike
Maintained by Steven Aftergood
Updated Saturday, June 21, 1997 11:14:49 AM
The Cable Repair Ship performs maintenance on the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) which is a network of strategically placed sonar sensors that provide early warning of submarines. The T-ARC class is capable of laying and retrieving deep water acoustic cables, and is also capable of supporting oceanographic research.
