Bespoke tether cables for inspection, medium and work-class ROV systems, engineered for power, data, fibre optics, strength and buoyancy.
ROV Tether Cable Specialists
Fibron ROV tether cables are individually designed and built to meet each customer's specification. Whether the application has demanding requirements for voltage, buoyancy, size, length or strength, Fibron can develop a bespoke construction around the operating needs of the ROV system.
Fibron's ability to process Vectran™ fibre and a range of polymeric materials on state-of-the-art machinery enables us to manufacture tether cables with a carefully controlled balance of strength, flexibility, diameter and weight. These cables are typically offered in lightweight, compact constructions with selected sheath materials to provide the required flexibility and neutral-to-positive buoyancy.
A modern ROV tether may need to do much more than provide a physical connection to the vehicle. Depending on the application it may also carry electrical power, control signals, telemetry, video and fibre-optic communications. Fibron's broader subsea cable capability allows these electrical, optical and mechanical functions to be considered as part of one engineered system.
Inspection Class · Medium Class · Work Class · Power · Data · Fibre Optics · Buoyancy
Lightweight & Compact Tether Cable Construction
Fibron tether cables are typically designed as lightweight, compact constructions. This can be particularly important for smaller and medium-class vehicles where cable drag, bend behaviour and suspended weight can have a significant influence on manoeuvrability and system performance.
A carefully selected combination of strength members, fillers, conductors, optical elements and sheath materials can help control overall diameter while maintaining the required tensile performance and flexibility.
Where required, the construction can be developed to provide neutral or positive buoyancy, reducing the tendency of the tether to sink and helping to limit the mechanical disturbance transferred to the ROV.
Because every project is different, buoyancy, diameter, breaking load, operating voltage, fibre count and cable length can all be considered during Fibron's cable design process.
Bespoke ROV Tether Cable Design
The optimum tether architecture depends on the vehicle, operating depth, power demand, communications requirements, launch and recovery arrangement and expected duty cycle.
Fibron can evaluate conductor size, voltage, current, signal requirements, fibre count, tensile strength, minimum bend radius, weight in water, buoyancy, abrasion resistance and the required outer-jacket properties.
Strength members may incorporate Vectran™, aramid or other high-performance fibres where low weight and high tensile performance are required. Polymer selection can also be tailored around flexibility, seawater exposure, abrasion, handling and operating temperature.
Early engagement is valuable because the tether can be developed alongside the vehicle, tether management system, connectors, winch or reel and deployment hardware rather than being treated as an isolated component.
Where a new construction needs to be proven before production, Fibron can also manufacture prototype cables and short qualification lengths.
Power, Signal, Data & Fibre-Optic Tethers
ROV tether cables frequently combine several services within one compact construction. Depending on the vehicle, a tether may carry electrical power, vehicle control, telemetry, video, data and fibre-optic communications while also providing the mechanical connection between the ROV and topside system.
Fibron has extensive experience in electro-optical power and signal cables, enabling electrical and optical services to be integrated within robust subsea constructions.
Where several electrical, optical and mechanical functions need to be combined together, Fibron's composite cable capability can be used to develop a multifunctional tether around the precise needs of the vehicle.
The objective is to minimise unnecessary diameter, weight and complexity while maintaining reliable power and communications performance throughout the operational duty.
Buoyancy & Tether Management
Buoyancy can have a major influence on the behaviour of an ROV tether. A negatively buoyant cable may create unwanted drag or seabed interaction, while a neutral or positively buoyant construction can reduce disturbance to the vehicle and help maintain a more predictable tether shape in the water column.
Fibron can tailor material selection and cable geometry around the required buoyancy characteristics while also considering diameter, tensile strength, flexibility and durability.
Where the ROV operates through a tether management system, the relationship between the tether, cage or garage, reel and handling equipment can also be considered during design. This integrated approach helps ensure that the cable remains practical to deploy, manage and recover as well as technically suitable for the vehicle.
Dynamic Performance & Handling
An ROV tether is normally a dynamic cable. It may be repeatedly bent, reeled, deployed, recovered and subjected to changing tensile loads throughout its operating life.
For this reason, the tether architecture must consider flexibility and fatigue alongside electrical and optical performance. Conductor arrangement, strength-member selection, lay geometry, jacket materials and minimum bend radius all influence how the cable behaves during repeated movement.
Fibron's specialist dynamic cable capability covers applications where movement forms part of the normal operating duty. This experience can be applied to ROV tethers where cyclic handling, bend performance and interaction with reels or sheaves are important.
For systems where the cable also carries a substantial suspended load, Fibron's ROV main lift cable capability provides a related solution using steel-wire or high-performance fibre reinforcement.
ROV Tether Cable Applications
Fibron tether cables can be designed for a wide variety of remotely operated vehicles and subsea systems.
- Inspection-class ROVs
- Observation-class vehicles
- Medium-class ROVs
- Work-class ROV systems
- Tether management systems and subsea garages
- Specialist remotely operated subsea equipment
- Survey, monitoring and inspection vehicles
Fibron's wider ROV cable and umbilical capability also includes main lift umbilicals, replacement systems and bespoke cables for harsh subsea environments.
Tether Cable Testing & Qualification
Testing can be tailored around the risks and operating duty of the tether cable.
Fibron's in-house testing and qualification facilities can be used to assess relevant mechanical, electrical and optical characteristics. Depending on the application, this may include tensile testing, cyclic bend or bend-over-sheave testing, crush and clamp testing, bend-stiffness assessment, electrical verification and optical continuity or attenuation testing.
For prototype or development programmes, test results can feed directly back into the design process before the final production construction is released.
This combination of design, manufacture and testing through one engineering team can reduce hand-offs and provide greater control over the complete tether development programme.
Complete Tether & Termination Packages
Reliable ROV operation depends on the interfaces at either end of the tether as well as the cable itself. Fibron can coordinate cable design with mechanical terminations, electrical and optical connectors, bend protection and other associated equipment.
Our terminations and ancillaries capability allows the complete cable assembly to be considered as one engineered package.
Where required, this can reduce interface risk and give the customer a single point of responsibility for cable manufacture, termination and qualification.
Why Choose Fibron for ROV Tether Cables?
Bespoke Design
Voltage, buoyancy, diameter, length, strength and communications requirements can all be tailored.
Lightweight Construction
Vectran™ fibre and specialist polymers support compact, flexible tether cable designs.
Dynamic Capability
Cyclic movement, handling, reeling and bend performance can be considered from the outset.
Integrated Testing
Mechanical, electrical and optical performance can be verified against project requirements.
ROV Tether Cable FAQs
What is an ROV tether cable?
An ROV tether cable provides the connection between an ROV and its topside or tether management system. Depending on the vehicle, it may carry power, control signals, telemetry, video and fibre-optic data while also providing mechanical strength.
Can ROV tether cables be neutrally buoyant?
Yes. Fibron can develop lightweight tether constructions with selected materials to provide neutral or positive buoyancy where required by the application.
Can a tether cable contain fibre optics and power conductors?
Yes. Fibron can combine electrical power, signal, data and fibre-optic services within one tether cable construction.
Can Fibron manufacture tether cables for different classes of ROV?
Yes. Fibron designs tether cables for inspection, medium and work-class ROV systems, with voltage, buoyancy, size, length and strength tailored to the application.
How are ROV tether cables tested?
Testing depends on the operating duty and may include tensile, cyclic bend, crush, clamp, electrical and optical verification together with inspection of the complete terminated assembly.
Discuss Your ROV Tether Cable Requirement
If you need an ROV tether cable and cannot immediately see the exact construction you require, please get in touch. Most Fibron products are bespoke to individual projects, so the full extent of our capability cannot be shown online. Our engineering team can help develop a tether around the required vehicle, voltage, communications, buoyancy, strength, length and handling requirements.
