Linksyn™
Linksyn™ comprises buoyant interlocking vertebrae, installed either directly on a ROV/plough umbilical termination or mid-water by means of a tether clamp. Each element comprises a buoyant syntactic composite core encapsulated within a resilient polyethylene external shell.
The increase in remote intervention in ultra deepwater has brought about the introduction of lightweight fibre optic control umbilicals, the main driver being to reduce the weight of the umbilical between the DSV and the ROV/plough. This lighter construction has made the umbilicals more susceptible to damage, particularly near the end termination/subsea connection. Linksyn has been developed to act as a permanently installed buoyancy collar located on the vehicle directly behind the recovery latching system, to provide support to the umbilical by acting as a "lock out" bending restrictor, forming a continuous and flexible buoyancy collar with a smooth outer profile.
Advantages:
- The continuous interlocking system makes it possible to "link in" (adding or subtracting) buoyancy elements as necessary to trim the umbilical and ensure it is positioned in the correct orientation in relation to the ROV/plough
- A "fit and forget" component with a one-size-fits-all philosophy provides operators and builders alike commonality of product allowing the re-use and potential redeployment of Linksyn™ throughout the ROV/plough fleet
- The system features an integrated polymer bending stiffener allowing for smooth transition of the umbilical from the end Linksyn™ modules.