The Lodbrog
is laying the first of two 10km extension cable that will carry power and communications from the Barkley Canyon node to our instruments. The one to the north that is now being installed will service our Vertical Profiler System and shelf-break benthic pod, which will sit at a depth of 400m. When finished, the Lodbrog will lay the second extension cable, running from the node down into the canyon.
To prep the seafloor for this cable lay, the Lodbrog first deployed a flatfish cutting grapnel to clear the route of old ropes, out-of-service cables, fishing gear, etc. This has been completed for both the northern and southern extension cable routes.
Once laid, ROPOS will plug the extension cables into the node (via ODI wet-mate connectors) and the connections will be tested.
Extension Cables and Connection Ports |
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Lodbrog captain Jean Le Roux monitors the view from ROPOS as the extension cable connector hose (coiled on its deployment frame) is lowered to the seafloor next to the Barkley Canyon trawl-resistant frame.
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Cables in the Lodbrog's cavernous hold. The center structure holds ropes. Surrounding it, in the second ring, are the Barkley Canyon extension cables.
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Connection ports on the Barkley Canyon node. The right and left dummy connectors shown here will be removed at the seafloor by ROPOS and replaced with wet-mate connectors at the ends of the extension cables.
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Lodbrog crew deploy a metal frame holding the coiled connector hose attached to the end of the northern extension cable. ROPOS will remove the hose from this frame when attaching to the node. Atlantis appears dimly in the distance, obscured by fog.
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(Click to enlarge.)