View source for Engineering:Cable layer

{{Short description|Ship for laying undersea cables}}
{{redirect|Cable ship|vessels that navigate by pulling along a fixed cable guide in a waterway|chain boat}}
[[File:Port Side of CS Cable Innovator.jpg|thumb|Modern cable layer CS ''Cable Innovator'' docked in Port Angeles, Washington]]
[[File:Cable layer ship.jpg|right|thumb|CS ''Dependable'' at Astoria, Oregon, a modern stern sheave design]]
[[File:SS Silvertown 1873 1901.JPG|thumb|CS ''Hooper'', the world's first purpose-built cable-laying ship, built by [[Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)|C. Mitchell & Co]] of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1873, renamed CS ''Silvertown'' in 1881]]
A '''cable layer''' or '''cable ship''' is a deep-sea vessel designed and used to lay underwater cables [[Engineering:Submarine communications cable|for telecommunications]], [[Engineering:Submarine power cable|for electric power transmission]], military, or other purposes. Cable ships are distinguished by large cable [[Engineering:Sheave|sheave]]s<ref name="tat1">{{cite web|url=http://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Monarch(4)/|title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – HMTS Monarch (4)|website=atlantic-cable.com|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> for guiding cable over bow or [[Engineering:Stern|stern]] or both. Bow sheaves,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/27/09270209.jpg|title=NavSource Photo, USS Neptune (ARC 2) bow sheaves|website=NavSource|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> some very large, were characteristic of all cable ships in the past, but newer ships are tending toward having stern sheaves only, as seen in the photo of CS ''Cable Innovator'' at the Port of Astoria on this page. The names of cable ships are often preceded by "C.S." as in CS ''Long Lines''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlantic-cable.com/CableStories/Parrish/index.htm|title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – Leo Parrish and CS Long Lines|website=atlantic-cable.com|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>

The first [[History:Transatlantic telegraph cable|transatlantic telegraph cable]] was laid by cable layers in 1857 to 1858. It briefly enabled telecommunication between Europe and North America before misuse resulted in failure of the line. In 1866 the {{SS|Great Eastern}} successfully laid two transatlantic cables, securing future communication between the continents.

== Modern cable ships ==
Cable ships have unique requirements related to having long idle periods in port between cable laying or repairs, operation at low speeds or stopped at sea during cable operations, long periods running astern (less frequent as stern layers are now common), high maneuverability, and a fair speed to reach operation areas.<ref name=Gill>{{cite journal |last=Gill |first=A. J. |date=January 1947 |title=H.M.T.S. ''Monarch'' |journal=The Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal |volume=39 |issue=January 1947 |pages=129–138 |location=London |publisher=The Institution of Post Office Electrical Engineers |url=http://www.samhallas.co.uk/repository/journals/POEEJ/POEEJ%20Vol%2039%20Pt%204%20January%201947.pdf |access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

Modern cable ships differ greatly from their predecessors. There are two main types of cable ships: cable repair ships and cable-laying ships. Cable repair ships, like the Japanese ''Tsugaru Maru'', tend to be smaller and more maneuverable; they are capable of laying cable, but their primary job is fixing or repairing broken sections of cable. A cable-laying ship, like ''CS Long Lines'', is designed to lay new cables. Such ships are bigger than repair ships and less maneuverable; their cable storage drums are also larger and are set in parallel so one drum can feed into another, allowing them to lay cable much faster. These ships are also generally equipped with a linear cable engine (LCE) that helps them lay cable quickly. By locating the manufacturing plant near a harbor, cable can be loaded into the ship's hold as it is being manufactured.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/10/technology/internet-cables-oceans.html How the Internet Travels Across Oceans, by Adam Satariano, graphics By Karl Russell, Troy Griggs and Blacki Migliozzi, photographs by Chang W. Lee, ''New York Times'', March 10, 2019]</ref>

The newest design of cable layers, though, is a combination of cable-laying and repair ships.  An example is {{USNS|Zeus|T-ARC-7}} the only U.S. naval cable layer-repair ship. ''Zeus'' uses two diesel-electric engines that produce {{convert|5000|hp|abbr=out|sigfig=2|lk=on}} each and can carry her up to {{convert|15|kn|km/h mph}}. She can lay about {{convert|1000|mi|km}} of telecommunications cable to a depth of {{convert|9000|ft|m}}. The purpose of ''Zeus'' was to be a cable ship that could do anything required of it, so the ship was built to be able to lay and retrieve cable from either the bow or the stern with ease.  This design was similar to that of the first cable ship, ''Great Eastern''. ''Zeus'' was built to be as maneuverable as possible so that it could fulfill both roles: as a cable layer or a cable repair ship.<ref>Sanderlin, T., Stuart, W., & Jamieson, D.R., (1979). ''Cable Laying Ship''. Presented at the April 18, 1979, meeting of Chesapeake Section of The Society of Naval Architects and marine Engineers.</ref>

== Equipment ==
[[File:Durable Shipped at Keelung Port Front View 20150316.jpg|thumb|right|CS ''Durable'' was operated by TE Subcom, docked at Keelung port in 2015. This reliance-class ship without bow sheaves.]]
To ensure that cable is laid and retrieved properly, specially designed equipment must be used.  Different equipment is used on cable-laying ships depending on what their job requires. In order to retrieve damaged or mislaid cable, a grapple system is used to gather cable from the ocean floor. There are several types of grapples, each with certain advantages or disadvantages. These grapples are attached to the vessel via a grapple rope, originally a mix of steel and manila lines, but now made from synthetic materials.  This ensures that the line is strong, yet can flex and strain under the weight of the grapple. The line is pulled up by reversing the Linear Cable Engine used to lay the cable.<ref name="Thomas N. Sanderlin 1979">Thomas N. Sanderlin, Stuart M. Williams & Robert D. Jamison.(1979).Cable Laying Ship.Presented at the April 18, 1979, meeting of Chesapeake Section of The Society of Naval Architects and marine Engineers.</ref>

[[File:2024-11-26 03 CABLE INNOVATOR - IMO 9101132 – Victoria, BC CAN.jpg|right|thumb|CS ''Cable Innovator'' at anchor in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, showing a modern design without bow sheaves]]
The most common laying engine in use is the Linear Cable Engine (LCE). The LCE is used to feed the cable down to the ocean floor, but this device can also be reversed and used to bring back up cable needing repair.  These engines can feed {{convert|800|ft|m}} of cable a minute. Ships are limited to a speed of {{convert|8|kn|km/h|spell=in}} while laying cable to ensure the cable lies on the sea floor properly and to compensate for any small adjustments in course that might affect the cables' position, which must be carefully mapped so that they can be found again if they need to be repaired.  Linear Cable Engines are also equipped with a brake system that allows the flow of cable to be controlled or stopped if a problem arises.  A common system used is a fleeting drum, a mechanical drum fitted with eoduldes (raised surfaces on the drum face) that help slow and guide the cable into the LCE.<ref name="Thomas N. Sanderlin 1979"/>   
Cable ships also use “plows” that are suspended under the vessel.  These plows use jets of high-pressure water to bury cable {{convert|3|ft|m|spell=in}} under the sea floor, which prevents fishing vessels from snagging cables as thrall their nets.<ref>Frank, D. Messia; Jon, B. Machin; Jeffery, A.Hill. (2000). The Economic Advantages of Jet-Assisted Plowing.Source: Oceans Conference Record (IEEE), v 1, p 649-656, 2001;  {{ISSN|0197-7385}};  DOI: 10.1109/OCEANS.2001.968800; Conference: Oceans 2001 MTS/IEEE – An Ocean Odyssey, November 5, 2001 – November 8, 2001; Sponsor: Marine Technology Society; IEEE; OES; Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.</ref>

HMTS ''Monarch''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmts-alert.org.uk/h-m-t-s-alert/|title=A Brief History Of The H.M.T.S. Alert|website=H.M.T.S. Alert|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115072556/http://www.hmts-alert.org.uk/h-m-t-s-alert/|archive-date=15 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> (renamed CS ''Sentinel'' 13 October 1970)<ref Name="tat1"/> completed the first transatlantic telephone cable, TAT-1, in 1956<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlantic-cable.com/Cables/speed.htm|title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – Cable Signalling Speed|website=atlantic-cable.com|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> from Scotland to Nova Scotia for Britain's General Post Office (GPO).

[[File:Step in to my Office -- Nav setup on Peter Faber.jpg|thumb|right|CS ''Peter Faber'' navigation systems and other equipment in 2005]]
The Ocean Marine System Group used a cable laying software designed by Makai Ocean Engineering Inc., in five of their cable installation and repair vessels. The MakaiLay software has been used by 90% of the worlds' global fleet of cable ships. These five OMS vessels were installed with this software on August 23, 2023, to reduce failures during installation and increase  reliability, safety, speed, and accuracy:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kugeler |first1=Hermann |title=OMS Group Commissions Makai Software Across Their Installation and Repair Fleet |url=https://subtelforum.com/oms-group-commissions-makai-software-for-fleet/ |website=subtelforum.com |date=24 August 2023 |publisher=Submarine telecoms Forum |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>
* CS ''Cable Vigilance''
* CS ''Île de Ré'' (Formerly Alcatel/Alcatel-Lucent/Nokia ship)
* CS ''Lodbrog'' (Formerly Alcatel/Alcatel-Lucent ship)
* CS ''Teneo''
* ''Peter Faber'' (Formerly Alcatel-Lucent/Nokia ship)
[[File:MV Peter Faber, Calais 1.jpg|thumb|right|The Alcatel CS MV ''Peter Faber'' in 2005 docked at Calais, France where Alcatel has a cable factory]]

=== Repeaters ===
When [[Engineering:Coaxial cable|coaxial cable]]s were introduced as submarine cables, a new issue with cable-laying was encountered.  These cables had periodic [[Repeater|repeater]]s inline with the cable and powered through it.  Repeaters overcame significant transmission problems on submarine cables.  The difficulty with laying repeaters is that there is a bulge where they are spliced in to the cable and this causes problems passing through the [[Engineering:Sheave|sheave]].  British ships, such as HMTS ''Monarch'' and HMTS ''Alert'' solved the problem by providing a trough for the repeater to bypass the sheave.  A rope connected in parallel to the repeater went through the sheave which pulled the cable back in to the sheave after the repeater had passed.  It was normally necessary for the ship to slow down while the repeater was being laid.<ref name="Haigh">K. R. Haigh, ''Cableships and Submarine Cables'', pp. 211–214, Adlard Coles, 1968 {{oclc|497380538}}.</ref>  American ships, for a time, tried using flexible repeaters which passed through the sheave.  However, by the 1960s they were also using rigid repeaters similar to the British system.<ref name="NewScientist">[https://books.google.com/books?id=d_XOKdeyXrYC&pg=PA716 "Two new British cable ships completed"], ''New Scientist'', No. 240, p. 716, 22 June 1961.</ref>

Another issue with coaxial repeaters is that they are much heavier than the cable.  To ensure that they sink at the same rate as the cable (which can take some time to reach the bottom) and keep the cable straight, the repeaters are fitted with parachutes.<ref name="NewScientist"/><ref name="Haigh"/>{{rp|212}}

==List of cable ships==

[[File:Goliath cable layer.png|thumb|''Goliath'']]
[[File:US cable ship Burnside at Ketchikan, Alaska, June 29, 1911 (COBB 199).jpeg|thumb|Cable ship ''Burnside'' in [[Ketchikan]], [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]], June 1911]]

* ''Princess Clementine'' was a passenger ferry, in 1849, installed {{convert|2|mi|spell=in}} of cable from the coast of Folkestone to the shoreline of railway telegraph lines. Charles Vincent Walker of the South Eastern Railway Company conceived this cable for to have ship to shore telegraph messages communications.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships">{{cite web |last1=Swinhoe |first1=Dan |title=A brief history of cable ships |url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/a-brief-history-of-cable-ships/ |website=www.datacenterdynamics.com |date=9 December 2022 |publisher=datacenterdynamics |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
* ''Goliath'', the first ship to lay an ocean cable in 1850.  Done for the Submarine Telegraph Company across the English Channel.
* ''Blazer'', the hulk vessel laid the South Foreland and Sangatte cable by Submarine Telegraph Company in 1851.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* ''Red Rover'' in 1851, a steam tug, worked on the South Foreland and Sangatte replacement cable with new section of armored cable.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* HMS ''Widgeon'' in 1851, the vessel provided a slice at sea on the new section cable of South Foreland and Sangatte with the failed rendezvous with Red Rover.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* {{ship|CS|Monarch|1830|6}} (1830–1883), first ship to be permanently fitted out as a cable ship
* {{HMS|Agamemnon|1852|6}} (1852–1870) a converted British warship, involved in the first Ireland and US cabling of 1857. Cable laying began off Ireland's Ballycarbery Castle in County Kerry. During this operation, {{convert|2500|nmi|lk=in}} of cable were stored on each ship, but {{convert|300|ft}} of cable was lost over a region known as Telegraph Plateau in the North Atlantic with depths nearly {{cvt|10500|ft}}. Attempts with USS ''Niagara'' failed twice that year and work was abandoned, until next year, both ships met in the mid-Atlantic for spicing of their cables and HMS ''Agamemnon'' traveled east towards Valentia Island. Additional breakage in the cable occurred and another attempts to lay the cabling were sort of successful. A failure occurred in the installed cable after a month due to engineer mishandling causing damage.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* {{USS|Niagara|1855|6}} (1855–1885) a converted American warship, worked with HMS ''Agamemnon'' on the first US and Ireland cable run attempt failed route of 1857. In 1858, another attempt was done with middle Atlantic splicing meet by both ships, and USS ''Niagara'' laying cable as traveled westward towards Newfoundland. Three attempts were done due to further breaks in the cable. After a month of service, the cable became useless when damage was done by an engineer handling.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/> 
* {{SS|Great Eastern}}, worked as a cable ship from 1865 to 1870. This paddle wheel steamship vessel was originally made as a passenger ship and performed duties during the interim until being re-fitted as a liner, showboat, and advertising vessel. In 1890, she was scrapped.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* {{ship|CS|Anglia}} (1901–1902) custom built-ship used on the 1901–1902, first trans-Pacific telegraph cable by Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company (Telcon.)<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* {{ship|CS|Hooper}}, built in Newcastle, launched 29 March 1873 for [[Company:Hooper's Telegraph Works|Hooper's Telegraph Works]], first cable ship designed to lay trans Atlantic cable, renamed CS ''Silvertown'' in 1881.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlantic-cable.com//Cableships/Silvertown/index.htm |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – CS ''Hooper''/''Silvertown'' |access-date=22 January 2020 |last=Glover |first=Bill |date=22 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=April 7, 1873 |title=Launch of a Telegraph Steamer |journal=The London and China Telegraph |volume=15 |issue=501 |page=229 |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sS9BAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA229 |access-date=22 January 2020}}</ref> In 1901–1902, operated under CS ''Silvertown'' for the first trans-Pacific telegraph cable laying. The cable was from San Francisco, California along Hawaii, Midway, and Guam to Manila, Philippines, and continued undersea along China and Japan. A collaborated effort between two other vessels, CS ''Anglia'' and CS ''Colonia'', and the two operating companies of the vessels: India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company with Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* {{ship|CS|Colonia}} (1901–1902) custom-built ship used on the first trans-Pacific telegraph cable of 1901–1902. The vessels' operator, Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company (Telcon) collaborated with India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Telegraph Works Company on the CS ''Silverton''.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''H. C. Oersted'', named for [[Biography:Hans Christian Ørsted|Hans Christian Ørsted]] (1872–1922) built for The Great Northern Telegraph Company 1872, was the first ship specifically designed for cable repair.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/GreatNorthern/index.htm#hce |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – CS ''H. C. Oersted'' |access-date=27 January 2020 |last=Glover |first=Bill |date= 4 March 2017}}</ref> Scrapped in 1922.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''Seine'', maiden voyage 1873<ref name="Glover">{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Bill |title=The Evolution of Cable & Wireless, Part 3 |url=http://atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/CandW/EATC/index.htm |website=Atlantic-cable.com |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="ILN 1873">{{cite news |title=Ship Seine |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/illustration/ship-seine-laying-land-end-of-brazilian-submarine-stock-graphic/677102407 |access-date=21 February 2019 |publisher=The Illustrated London News |date=1 November 1873 |quote=The ship Seine laying the land end of the Brazilian submarine telegraph cable at Madeira, illustration from the magazine The Illustrated London News, volume LXIII, November 1, 1873. |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727060910/https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/illustration/ship-seine-laying-land-end-of-brazilian-submarine-stock-graphic/677102407 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{ship|CS|Faraday|1874|6}}, built in 1874 for Siemens Brothers
* {{ship|CS|Gomos}}, the first cable ship ever to be sunk; she was rammed by another ship in the 1870s while laying a cable for the Brazilian Submarine Telegraph Company.<ref>{{cite web |last=Glover |first=Bill |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Gomos/index.htm |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – CS ''Gomos'' |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=ENG>{{cite journal|year= 1874|title=Telegraphic Progress in 1874 |journal=Engineering |volume=19 |issue=January 1875 |pages=12–13 |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aulQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA387 }}</ref><ref>Huurdeman, Anton A., ''The Worldwide History of Telecommunications'', Wiley, 2003 {{ISBN|0471205052}}.</ref>{{rp|137}}
* {{ship|CS|La Plata}}, chartered by Siemens Brothers Ltd. from W.T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co. to lay cable between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Chuy, Uruguay to complete work after CS ''Gomos'' sunk. Foundered 29 November 1874 in the Bay of Biscay with loss of 58 crew and the cable.<ref name=ENG/><ref>{{cite web |last=Glover |first=Bill |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/LaPlata/index.htm |title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – CS ''La Plata'' |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
* {{ship|CS|Ambassador}} during the laying of Brazil and Uruguay cable route for the Brazilian Submarine Telegraph Company, its partner ship, CS ''Gomos'' was sunk in the operations by a ramming ship. Afterwards, the CS ''La Plata'' was partnered with the CS ''Ambassador'' with cable but sunk in Bay of Biscay before working on the completion of the route. The CS ''Ambassador'' was able to finish the laying.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''Burnside'' (1882–1924) British/Spanish/American ship. Built for W. Lund of London and named ''Yeoman''. Ship was planned for an Australian cable laying route and initially named ''Yeoman''. Sold to Spain in 1891, as ''Rita'', and captured by US, renaming as ''Burnside''. Completed work in laying cable in the Philippines after CS ''Hooker'' sunk. In 1903, laid the US-Alaska cable from Sitka to Juneau. Scrapped in 1924.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Bill |title=CS Burnside |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Burnside/index.htm |website=atlantic-cable.com |publisher=Atlantic cable |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
* CS ''Monarch'' (1883–1915) British ship. Second cable ship with the name. Sunk in 1915.
* CS ''Mackay-Bennett'', in service from 1884 until 1922, and best known for recovering the bodies of the victims of the {{ship||Titanic}} disaster in 1912
* CS ''Alert'' (1890–1915), cut important German cables in [[Social:World War I|World War I]]
* CS ''Cambria'' (1905), sank in [[Place:Montevideo|Montevideo]] harbour, Uruguay, in 1945
* HMTS ''Monarch'' (1916–1945) British ship. Third cable ship with the name. Sunk in 1945. Was to be the second CS ''Alert''.
* HMTS ''Alert'' (1918–1945) Second cable ship with the name. Sunk in 1945.
* CS ''Faraday'' (1923) 
* CS ''Telconia'', in service from 1910 until 1934
* HMTS ''Alert'' (1945–1960) Third cable ship with the name. Scrapped in 1960.
* HMTS ''Monarch''/CS ''Sentinel'' (1945–1977) British ship. Chartered by AT&T Corp. for operations until CS ''Long Lines'' was commissioned for company use. The TAT-1, submarine transatlantic telephone cable system was laid in the 1950s between Clarenville, Newfoundland and Oban, Scotland. Fourth cable ship with the name. Operated in 1956 on TAT-2. Renamed in 1970 as the second CS ''Sentinel'' when sold to Cable & Wireless plc.
* CS ''Lidiv'' (Decommissioned 1955) Built for AT&T Corp. for New York Telephone Company use. Decommissioned in 1955 and the CS ''Cable Queen'' was the replacement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Bill |title=CS Cable Queen |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Lidiv/index.htm |website=atlantic-cable.com |publisher=History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
* CS ''Cable Queen'' (Built 1951–1952) Built for AT&T Corp. for the Bell System usage by New York Telephone Company. A 65-foot small-scale underwater telephone cable-laying vessel. Decommissioned after 1989 with over 100,000 miles of cable laying.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Bill |title=CS Cable Queen |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/CableQueen/index.htm |website=atlantic-cable.com |publisher=History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
* CS ''Salernum''/''Charles L. Brown'' (Built 1954) Built in Italy and named CS ''Salernum''. Dimensions were length as 339.6&nbsp;ft, breadth as 41.0&nbsp;ft, depth as 18.5&nbsp;ft, and gross tonnage at 2,789. Purchased by AT&T Corp. through its subsidiary, Transoceanic Cableship Co., in 1984. Sold by AT&T in 1997 to Tyco International in the AT&T Submarine Systems fleet purchases. The wreck became an artificial reef in the Dutch Caribbean island, Sint Eustatius.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mauric |first1=Damien |title=Secret Scuba Spot: Charlie Brown Wreck in Statia |url=https://www.scubadiving.com/keywords/underwater-photography/secret-dive-spot-beast-steel-sint-eustatius |website=www.scubadiving.com |publisher=Padi |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Bell telephone magazine (1922) (14569651087).jpg|thumb|AT&T Long Lines cable ship working on the cable linking mainland Vero Beach, Florida to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Typical maps, US to Venezuela cable route.]]
* CS ''Long Lines'' (Built 1961–1963) Built for AT&T Corp. for the 1961 launching, but cable laying assignments began in 1963. The $19 million vessel was 511 feet length and 11,300 tons. Performed the laying of the first trans-Pacific telephone cable, known as TRANSPAC-1 (TPC-1) in 1964. and the first trans-Pacific fiber cable, known as TPC 3.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/> Sold in 1997 to Tyco International.<ref>{{cite web |title=C.S. Long Lines – IMO 5421235 |url=https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/1641313 |website=www.shipspotting.com |publisher=Ship Spotting |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Scrapped in 2003.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* HMTS ''Alert'' (1961) In 1988, was owned by British Telecom when it worked a joint operation with CS ''Long Lines'' and CS ''Vercors'' on the first transatlantic fiber optic cable, TAT-8. The three cable laying points originated from three telephone companies owned vessels in three countries. Britain was Widemouth Bay, England.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS Mercury (1962–1997) by [[Company:Cammell Laird|Cammell Laird & Company]], Birkenhead. Built for Cable & Wireless, laid the COMPAC and SEACOM cable systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glover |first=Bill |date=19 June 2022 |title=CS Mercury |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Mercury/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513035721/https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Mercury/index.htm |archive-date=13 May 2025 |access-date=12 May 2025 |website=History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications}}</ref>
* CS ''KDD Maru'' (1967) Owned by Kokusai Denshin Denwa Company Participated in the joint cable laying of TPC-3 with CS ''Long Lines''.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* HMTS ''Monarch'' (1973–2003) British ship. Fifth cable ship with the name.
* CS ''Vercors''/''Chamarel'' (1974) In 1988, was owned by France Telecom when it worked a joint operation with CS ''Alert'' and CS ''Long Lines'' on the first transatlantic fiber optic cable, TAT-8. The three cable laying points originated from three countries and three different telephone company vessels. France was Penmarch, France. Later operated by [[Company:Orange S.A.|Orange]]. The United States point was Tuckerton, New Jersey. The communications transmission capacity reached in 18 months beyond expectations that other lines would be needed within a decade.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''Tyco Provider''/''Provider 1'' (1978) Built in Finland, named, ''Stakhanovets Yermolenko'' until March 1998. Became the ''Tyco Provider'' until 2003. The vessel was in service in May 2004 and was not docked at a port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> The renamed ship, as ''Provider 1'', was operated by Allseas Marine Contractors S.A. in the log until June 2005 showed the name of ''Calamity Jane''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tyco Provider – IMO 7616779 |url=https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/787695 |website=www.shipspotting.com |publisher=Ship Spotting |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as Tyco property, under the Marshall Islands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tyco International Ltd, Bermuda|url=https://faculty.babson.edu/halsey/acc7500/Tyco%202001%20Annual%20Report.pdf |website=faculty.babson.edu |publisher=Tyco International |access-date=2 December 2023 |page=216}}</ref>
* CS ''Raymond Croze'' (1982) Used by Orange UK, the vessel was 40 years old in 2022 when a replacement was being planned by Orange Marine, the subsidiary of Orange. New ship launching was planned for 2023 after new vessel would be completed.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''Global Link'' (Built 1990s) Owned by Transoceanic Cable Ship Co., a subsidiary of the United States–based telephone company, AT&T Corp.. It was a sister ship and identical to CS Global Sentinel.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Seafarers Bring Newest AT&T Cable Ship to States |journal=Seafarers Log |date=January 1993 |volume=55 |issue=1 |page=3 |url=https://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/21fa0cf000a1c9660afdfd990c5c593c.PDF}}</ref>
[[File:Cable Ship - Global Sentinel - Tyco Telecom.jpg|thumb|right|CS ''Global Sentinel'', built in 1992 for AT&T and sold to Tyco Submarine Systems in 1997. Managed by Transoceanic Cable Ship. Laying cable in 2008.]]
* CS ''Global Sentinel'' (Built 1992) Maiden voyage from shipyard to Honolulu was February 1992. The 479-foot vessel equipped with bow thrusters, began cable laying operations in early 1992. Owned by Transoceanic Cable Ship Co., a subsidiary of the United States telephone company, AT&T Corp..<ref>{{cite journal |title=Seafarers Sail Through a Year Of Military Operations, Legislation, New Vessels and Elections |journal=Seafarers Log |date=January 1993 |volume=55 |issue=1 |page=14 |url=https://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/21fa0cf000a1c9660afdfd990c5c593c.PDF}}</ref>
* CS ''Global Mariner'' (Built 1992) Built in Singapore. The vessel was equipped with bow and stern thrusters only and had storage space for up to 4100 nautical miles of cable. Seafaring was done in December 1992 by Seafarers International Union crew. A SIU publication, ''Seafarers Log'', indicated in January 1993 the vessel was the fifth cable ship of the AT&T Corp. fleet. Owned by Transoceanic Cable Ship Co., the subsidiary of the United States AT&T telephone company.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Fifth AT&T Ship Joins Cable Fleet |journal=Seafarers Log |date=January 1993 |volume=55 |issue=1 |page=3 |url=https://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/21fa0cf000a1c9660afdfd990c5c593c.PDF}}</ref>
* CS ''Cable Innovator'' (Built 1995) This vessel was built in Kvaerner Masa Shipyard, Turku, Finland for the United Kingdom. The ship was part of Cable & Wireless plc (Marine) Ltd. The C&W fleet was transferred to Global Marine. The length is 476 feet (145 meters) and has a gross tonnage of 14,277. The ship can carry 8,000 tons of cable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Bill |title=CS Cable Innovator |url=https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Innovator/index.htm |website=atlantic-cable.com |publisher=Atlantic Cable |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
[[File:CS Tyco Responder-27527.jpg|thumb|right|CS ''Responder'' in 2008, at the island of Cozumel in Quintana Roo, Mexico]]
* CS ''Responder'' (2000–2020) Built for Maersk and TYCOM. The vessel was in service on April 24, 2004, when arrived at Hovensa port of the American Virgin Islands, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> In 2016, belonged to [[Company:KT Corporation|KT Submarine]]. In September 2020, while operating on cable laying off South Korea, the ship caught on fire and sunk.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM). The vessel is part of the ''Reliance''-class fleet.<ref name="Marine Insight">{{cite web |last1=Sharda |title=Tyco Resolute: The Mightiest Cable Laying Ship at the Sea |url=https://www.marineinsight.com/types-of-ships/tyco-resolute-the-mightiest-cable-laying-ship-at-the-sea/ |website=marinesite.com |date=18 August 2019 |publisher=Marine Insight |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> 
* CS ''Reliance'' (2002) Built in 2002. The vessel is part of the ''Reliance''-class fleet<ref name="Marine Insight"/> and was in service on May 1, 2004, as was docked at Bristol port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM). In 2020, provided the first half of the commercial cable from Perth, Australia, to the middle of the Indian Ocean for Subcom.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite web |last1=Brock |first1=Joe |title=Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping America take on China |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/us-china-tech-subcom/ |website=www.reuters.com |publisher=Marine Insight |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
* CS ''Resolute'' (2002) The vessel is part of the ''Reliance''-class fleet and was in service in May 2004 and was not docked at a port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM) with Marshall Islands. The vessel operates at speed of 14 knots with 40 meters length and has a 21 meters beam. Tonnage is 12,184. There are five main diesel engines on board and cable laying capacity is about 5,465.5 metric tons.<ref name="Marine Insight"/>
* CS ''Dependable'' (2002) The vessel was in service in May 2004 and was not docked at a port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging to Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM). In 2018, Tyco sold, the cable unit subsidiary, TE SubCom, for $325 million to a New York–based private equity firm with the ship assets. Currently used by Subcom, a New Jersey–based company contracted by the U.S. military in laying internet or surveillance cables.<ref name="reuters.com"/> In 2021, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a $10 million-a-year contract to provide undersea cable security with two ships. Subcom selected this ship with the CS ''Decisive'' for clandestine operations for laying cables for partnership with the Department of Defense in national security. In 2022, provided the second half of a commercial cable from the middle of the Indian Ocean to Diego Garcia that was started by CS ''Reliance''. Continued to lay the rest of the main cable to Oman. The vessel is part of the Reliance Class fleet.<ref name="Marine Insight"/>
[[File:CS Decisive departing Charleston.jpg|thumb|CS ''Decisive'' departing Charleston, South Carolina, in 2025]]
* CS ''Decisive'' (2003) The vessel is part of the ''Reliance''-class fleet and was in service on May 12, 2004, when arrived at Baltimore port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging to Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM). This vessel is part of the U.S. government's first Cable Security Fleet with additionally, CS Dependable, under Subcom ownership.<ref name="reuters.com"/> In 2021, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a $10 million-a-year contract to provide undersea cable security with two ships. Subcom selected this ship with the CS Dependable for responsibility for maintaining or repairing cables for economic interests with the U.S. Department of Defense partnership. In 2020, provided the first half of the commercial cable from Perth, Australia, to the middle of the Indian Ocean for Subcom.<ref name="Marine Insight"/>
[[File:Durable Shipped at Keelung Port 20150316a.jpg|thumb|right|CS ''Durable'', under the TE Subcom operation, was at Keelung Port in 2015]]
* CS ''Durable'' (2003) The vessel was in service on May 8, 2004, and set sail from Singapore port, according to a log.<ref>{{cite web |title=A global guide to the latest known locations of the world's cableships*, as at May 2004 |url=https://www.dieselduck.info/library/07%20stats/2004%20Cableships%20in%20operation.pdf |website=diselduck.info |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Listed in 2019 as one of the six ships belonging Tyco Telecommunications (TYCOM). The vessel is part of the Reliance Class fleet.<ref name="Marine Insight"/>
* CS ''Fu Tai'' (Built 2007) Built in Spain for offshore construction purposes. Purchased by Chinese S.B.Submarine Systems (SBSS) in 2021 for a retrofit conversion as a cable ship. Launched in 2022 for those cable ship purposes.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''Pierre de Fermat'' (2014) Used by Orange UK, the vessel was the first new ship built by Orange Marine, since the CS ''Raymond Croze'' was launched in 1983 for cable laying.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* CS ''MV Lida'' (Still operating in 2022) South Africa's Mertech Marine owns this cable retrieval ship as of 2022 and planned a retirement of the vessel with an unforeseen replacement date.<ref name="A brief history of cable ships"/>
* ''MV Maasvliet'' (Built 2023/2024) Launched on January 11th, 2024, from Nantong, China shipyards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cable recovery vessel Maasvliet delivered |url=https://www.conoship.com/2025/02/06/cable-recovery-vessel-maasvliet-delivered/ |website=www.conoship.com |publisher=Conoship International |access-date=27 February 2026 |date=February 6, 2025}}</ref> This cable recovery vessel is a 89.43 metres (293.4 feet) length ship, registered in Netherlands as built, owned, and operated by Netherland companies. Subsea Environmental Services chartered this cargo vessel with diesel-electric engines for cable recovery use. This is one of five designed ships by Conoship International, a Dutch naval architecture firm.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scheurwater |first1=Jan |title=VESSEL REVIEW - Maasvliet – Cable recovery and transport ship delivered to Dutch operator |url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/offshore/exploration-development/offshore-decommissioning/vessel-review-maasvliet-cable-recovery-and-transport-ship-delivered-to-dutch-operator |website=www.bairdmaritime.com |publisher=Marine Traffic |access-date=24 February 2026 |date=13 February 2025}}</ref> By August 2025, the ship had recovered 1,012 kilometers of cable from the defunct TAT-8 fiber undersea communications cable. The cable is being transported to Leixoes port in Portugal, and recycling done in South Africa by Mertech Marine of the cables two metals and two types of polyethylene.<ref>{{cite web |author1=msmash |title=Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/23/1723233/say-goodbye-to-the-undersea-cable-that-made-the-global-internet-possible |website=tech.slashdot.org |publisher=wired.com |access-date=24 February 2026 |date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ruffino |first1=Jane |title=Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible |url=https://www.wired.com/story/say-goodbye-to-the-undersea-cable-that-made-the-global-internet-possible/ |website=www.wired.com |publisher=wired |access-date=24 February 2026 |date=23 February 2026}}</ref>

===Royal Navy===
* {{HMS|Pique|1834}}, fifth-rate [[Engineering:Frigate|frigate]] used in 1845 as a cable ship
* {{HMS|Agamemnon|1852}}, 91-gun steam line-of-battle ship used as a cable ship in 1857 as part of the effort to lay the first [[History:Transatlantic telegraph cable|transatlantic telegraph cable]]
* {{HMS|Thrush|1889}}, composite [[Engineering:Gunboat|gunboat]] used briefly as a cable ship in 1915
* {{HMS|Squirrel|1904}}, coast guard vessel used as a cable ship in 1917

===US Navy===
[[File:USNS_Zeus.jpg|thumb|right|USNS ''Zeus'', with both bow and stern sheaves]]
* {{USS|Portunus|ARC-1}} 1951–1959
* {{USNS|Neptune|ARC-2}} 1973–1992
* {{USS|Aeolus|ARC-3}} 1973–1985
* USS ''Thor'' (ARC-4) 3 January 1956 to 2 July 1973 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02049.htm|title=Attack Cargo Ship AKA-49 Vanadis|website=NavSource|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>
* USS ''Yamacraw'' (ARC-5) 1959–1965
* USNS ''Albert J. Myer'' (T-ARC-6) 1963–1994
* {{USNS|Zeus|T-ARC-7}} 1984–present, only ship in class

==See also==
* List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy § Cable Repair Ships (ARC)
* List of ships of the United States Army § Cable laying ships
* [[Engineering:List of international submarine communications cables|List of international submarine communications cables]]
* [[Engineering:Optical fiber|Optical fiber]]
* [[Engineering:Submarine communications cable|Submarine communications cable]]
* [[Engineering:Submarine power cable|Submarine power cable]]
* [[Engineering:Pipe-laying ship|Pipe-laying ship]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
<!--
none of these are actually references; commenting out in case they may be of later use
* {{cite web | title=Tyco Telecommunications – Marine Services | url=http://www.tycotelecom.com/MarineServices/ | accessdate=November 14 2005 }}
* {{cite web | title=http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractors/cables/teledenmark/ | url=http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractors/cables/teledenmark/ | access-date=November 14 2005 }}
* {{cite web | title=http://www.marine.francetelecom.com/en/ | url=http://www.marine.francetelecom.com/en/ | access-date=February 5 2006 }}
* {{cite web | title= Global Marine Systems Limited | url=http://www.globalmarinesystems.com/ | access-date=November 14 2005 }}
* {{cite web | title= NTT World Engineering Marine Corporation (NTT-WEM) | url=http://www.nttwem.co.jp/ | access-date=November 14 2005 }}
* {{cite web | title= S. B. Submarine Systems | url=http://www.sbsubmarinesystems.com/ | access-date=November 14 2005 }}
* {{cite web | title= Emirates Telecommunications & marine Services FZE| url=http://www.emarine.ae/ | access-date=May 31 2006 }}
* {{cite web | title= IT International Telecom Inc.| url=http://www.ittelecom.com/ | access-date=June 13 2006 }}

-->

==External links==
* [https://www.iscpc.org/cableships-of-the-world/ International Cable Protection Committee{{dash}}Cableships of the World]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/maritime/media/index.php?cat=30 Photos of commercial cable layers]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhnblU9leIo C.S. ''Long Lines''] <!-- "TThe Story of the First Ultra Modern Phone Cable Ship" former url: https://techchannel.att.com/play-video.cfm/2011/3/21/AT&T-Archives-CS-Longlines -->
* [http://atlantic-cable.com/ History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=suhKGzLmRdcC&pg=PA263 ''The World's Submarine Telephone Systems''] (Extensive glossary, review of systems with discussion of ship equipment)
* [https://archive.org/details/southamericancab00indi/page/n5/mode/2up ''South American Cables 1891-1892''] Example of detailed description of cable and cable laying late 19th century.
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=dicDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 "Laying the New Ocean Cable"] (''Popular Science'' Dec. 1928, CS ''Dominia'')
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=a-IDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 "Cable Laying Ship Is Floating Wonderland"] (''Popular Mechanics'' July 1932)
* [https://archives-manuscripts.dartmouth.edu/repositories/2/resources/1103 United States Army Signal Corps Scrapbook Related to U.S. cable ship Burnside] at Dartmouth College Library
* [https://www.instagram.com/subsea_environmental_services/reel/DQ9sbHCCuMI/ "Video: Vessel MV Maasvliet offloading cable recovery (TAT-8 and SMW-3)]" Port of Leixões, Portugal on November 2025

{{ModernMerchantShipTypes}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cable Layer}}
[[Category:Ship types]]
[[Category:Submarine communications cables]]

{{Sourceattribution|Cable layer}}