Cable Reel Systems

A cable reel system brings together the equipment needed to store, tension and pay out subsea cable safely: a demountable carousel (or reel) for storage, a track tensioner to control pay-out speed and tension, and a loading tower or mobile loading arm to guide the cable to vessel or shore.

Oceanteam supplies these as a coordinated spread rather than isolated units, so capacities, interfaces and bend-radius limits are matched across the whole system. Our project management and design & fabrication teams configure the right combination for each project, from method statement through to on-site execution.

Equipment in a typical reel system

Cable carousels (storage & pay-out) · Track tensioners (pay-out control) · Loading towers & mobile loading arms (transfer) · Auxiliary equipment: MBR chutes, roller blocks, pull-in winches and control cabins.

A cable reel system brings together the equipment needed to store, tension and pay out subsea cable safely: a demountable carousel (or reel) for storage, a track tensioner to control pay-out speed and tension, and a loading tower or mobile loading arm to guide the cable to vessel or shore.

Oceanteam supplies these as a coordinated spread rather than isolated units, so capacities, interfaces and bend-radius limits are matched across the whole system. Our project management and design & fabrication teams configure the right combination for each project, from method statement through to on-site execution, so every element of the reel system, from carousel to tensioner to loading tower, works together as a single, engineered spread rather than a set of independent components.

Equipment in a Typical Cable Reel System

A complete cable reel system typically combines four categories of equipment. Cable carousels handle storage and controlled pay-out, with capacities from 2,500 to 4,000 tonnes across our current fleet. Track tensioners regulate pay-out speed and tension, protecting the cable’s minimum bend radius throughout the operation. Loading towers and mobile loading arms guide the cable safely during transfer between carousel, vessel and shore. Auxiliary equipment, including MBR chutes, roller blocks, pull-in winches and control cabins, completes the spread and supports day-to-day handling on site.

Cable carousels (storage & pay-out) · Track tensioners (pay-out control) · Loading towers & mobile loading arms (transfer) · Auxiliary equipment: MBR chutes, roller blocks, pull-in winches and control cabins.

When to Use a Cable Reel System

Cable reel systems are used across offshore wind and subsea oil & gas projects, wherever export cables, inter-array cables, umbilicals or flexible pipelines need to be stored, tensioned and paid out under controlled conditions. Every system we supply is engineered to DNV-ST-N001 and other applicable offshore standards, and is available for rental worldwide as part of the Combifloat Group. Get in touch with our project management team to configure the right reel system for your next project.