SMD’s Q-Trencher 400 for E-Marine’s Cable Ship

Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) has recently delivered a Q-Trencher 400 telecoms vehicle to United Arab Emirates-based company E-Marine.

The vehicle is to be installed on E-Marine’s dedicated Submarine Cable Installation and Maintenance Vessel ‘CS Maram’, which is currently undertaking dock trials ahead of its maiden voyage later this year.

SMD has supplied E-Marine with the full trenching system, including control system and gantry style telescopic Launch and Recovery System, and has worked closely with E-Marine to integrate the bespoke gantry system into the cable ship. The Q-Trencher vehicle is rated to 2500m water depth and capable of operations up to 4.0 knots.

The last cable maintenance machine of this size was delivered over a decade ago. The Q-Trencher 400 marks a new generation, equipped with SMD’s DVECS II advanced vehicle control technology. DVECS II features such as Time Trending, ‘Point to Fault’ and flexibility of the GUI & I/O benefit the pilot.

Paul Davison, Deputy MD, responsible for SMD’s subsea trenching business, commented: “E-Marine already owns a number of SMD built vehicles, built over a decade ago and its returning custom is testament to our machines’ performance and reliability. We are delighted to be working with E-Marine again and hope to contribute to its continuing success.”

Omar Jassim Bin Kalban, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of E-marine, said: “Our commitment to providing cable owners in the region with optimum solutions is significantly enhanced by the installation of the Q-Trencher 400 vehicle on CS Maram. Its ability to work closely with us to develop and install the bespoke gantry LARS made SMD the obvious choice for supply and one that we believe will help to increase our market share in the region. SMD also offers us access to its global customer support network, as well as excellent simulation and training facilities.”