The seas present an unpredictable and unforgiving environment where elemental exposure, vibration and chemical reactions can deteriorate the performance of a ship’s components. This is why protection is essential for vessels that spend majority of their time sailing through potentially rough seas. Protection not only applies to the hull and the ship’s outer surfaces but also to the internal components such as wiring. This is where marine cables save the day.

Marine cables, often called shipboard cables, are specifically designed to handle the conditions of the marine environment. Here’s a rundown of their major benefits that you otherwise won’t experience from standard wires and other non-marine grade cables.

Corrosion  Resistance

Cables with plain copper conductors are commonly used in low voltage applications but when they are exposed to environments with high levels of moisture, such as the seas the copper will corrode over time and develop an oxide layer that is black or dark brown in colour. In salt water environments, copper will also develop verdigris, a copper carbonate layer that appears as a green or blue coating. Coupled with oxidisation, the verdigris will lead to poor electrical conductivity and increased resistance in the cable. Over time, this problem can worsen and result in devastating electrical problems that will require stripping or replacing large sections of the cable.

Marine grade cables prevent this from happening because they’re manufactured with tinned copper.  Tinned copper is copper coated by tin, a base alloy that provides an excellent barrier against water, light and oxygen. It strengthens the copper’s natural properties, making it better equipped to resist wet environments, high temperatures and humidity, which is why it is typically used to manufacture high quality marine cables.

Higher Flexibility and Efficiency

In marine wire stranding, each individual strand is tinned and the strands are much finer. The fine stranding makes the cables exceptionally flexible, allowing them to better survive in a ship that’s constantly moving and vibrating. This flexibility also makes marine grade cables superior to standard wires when dealing with the inherent flexing that occurs in vessel cable wire runs.

Additionally, marine grade cables contain more copper than standard cables. When a cable has more copper, it can carry a higher current capacity and reduce electrical resistance. This enables the delivery of more amperage for the given gauge size.

Safety

Marine cables, especially the ones from Cable Source, are flame retardant, halogen free and contain low toxicity. These features fight to keep the elements away and prevent premature failures, eliminating the stress of worrying about your cables’ exposure when your ship is sailing on rough seas.

Ensure Smooth Sailing with High Quality Marine Cables from Cable Source

Investing in marine grade cables can pay off in the long run as they reduce downtime and ensure that your operations run smoothly.

Cable Source is a trusted stockist and distributor of marine grade cables manufactured specifically for the machinery standards and harsh working environments of ships and other marine facilities. They can withstand constant exposure to elements such as oil, acids, humidity, heat and cold.

For more information and inquiries about our marine grade cables, contact us