JIS Shipboard Cable

A shipboard cable is a filamentous appendage consisting of bands of a single to multiple copper conductors wound together, covered by a protective layer of some insulating material.

These conduits are specifically designed for use in ships and vessels and other maritime equipment.

Figure 1 Shipboard Cable

Thus, any cable that is designated for use aboard ships and vessels is deemed as shipboard cable. They find multiple applications in a wide range of marine and offshore equipment.

These can include cruise ships, submarines, naval and military vessels, and ocean drilling rigs.

Shipboard cables are designed primarily for use in ships and vessels. They are used in the marine environment for power supply and delivery.

As marine equipment needs to withstand great degrees of temperature extremities and various hazardous contaminants, shipboard cables are thus specially used to withstand harsh conditions in the marine environment.

Shipboard cables are used in marine and offshore equipment for fixed installations in ships, serving the purpose of power transmission and supply. Shipboard cables are also used in offshore platforms for instrumentation purposes.

Other ranges of applications for shipboard cables include military vessels, civilian ships, submarines, ocean drilling, telecommunication, and internet ranges.

Thus, shipboard cables cover almost every range of functions, including communication, control system, instrumentation, and power delivery.

Shipboard cables are used for marine appliances in a range of applications, including telecommunication.

Since the first undersea cable was laid at the beginning of the 1850s, these cables have been vastly used for transporting data signals across vast stretches of sea, serving an efficient function as telecommunication links between pieces of land separated by large ocean bodies.

Figure 3: Marine Telecommunication Cable

These shipboard cables are designed for use onboard and also in offshore equipment for communication and transfer of information in civilian and naval ships and in vessels.

Control circuits on ship boards make use of the telecommunication cables. Apart from that, they are also suited for use in metallurgical industry works, power plants, and mines.

Shipboard cables are specifically designed and manufactured to function under adverse conditions, in rugged and rocky terrains, under the seabed, and to endure extreme conditions.

In order to overcome these extremities, shipboard cables generally have the following characteristics:

• Good inner conductor
  A central band of an excellent conductor like copper or aluminum is necessary in order to ensure an efficient supply of power.
• Insulation
  To provide the conducting material, a coating, a layer of insulating material like rubber, is added to minimize the risk of damage and loss of signals.
• Armoring
  Armoring is done to prevent the cable from mechanical stress and heavy load. Heavily galvanized steel wires or non-magnetic materials for single-core cables are used for providing armor.
• Sheathing
  The sheathing is done to reduce electrical noise from the environment and to ensure the quality of the signal remains intact.
• Additional protective covering
  According to the needs of the external conditions, outer coverings are installed, usually of PVC, rubber, or polyurethane sheath, and layers of polypropylene yarns and jute can also be added.
• Corrosion resistance
  In marine environments, constant humid conditions can harm the cable. To prevent that, tinned copper is used, which greatly reduces corrosion.
• Flexibility
  Shipboard cables have great flexibility and a small bend radius, which makes them easier to handle, and also significantly reduces the installation time.
• Flame retardant
  To ensure the safety of the vessel, equipment, and staff, shipboard cables are made flame-retardant and fire-resistant.

Prior to their manufacturing, shipboard cables are made to undergo these tests and then passed into the market to ensure the best quality of the manufactured product.

Figure 4: Characteristics of Shipboard Cable

Usually, a specific rated voltage is used onboard a ship. Normally, a 60Hz, 440V voltage is operational on marine vessels. Higher voltages can be achieved in military vessels or tankers.

Depending upon the type of marine shipboard cable, their rated voltages can vary. For power and control cables, the usual voltage rating is 600V/1000V.

For instrumentation cables, the rated voltage can be 150/250V as they operate on lower voltages. Main cableways for medium-voltage systems are also used in ships and vessels.

A type of shipboard cable that may be used onboard in ships and vessels, serving significantly greater advantages than others, is the optical fiber cable.

Optical fibers serve a great many benefits in all the equipment in which they are used, including shipboard cables.

A fiber optical cable is a long appendage containing in it a number of optical fibers, normally encased in a plastic covering.

Additional protective layers may also be installed depending upon the necessity. These cables use light signals to carry and transmit data.

Thus, they can cover a long range of distances in a significantly shorter time with high speed.

When used in ships and marine environments, optical fiber cables provide greater speed and efficiency of power transmission and are rendered especially useful when long distances are involved.

They are flexible and are being excessively used for telecommunication and data transfer purposes.

Prior to the installation of any electrical conduit, necessary steps and precautionary measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of the equipment, vessel, and the staff.
The precautions for installation of shipboard cables include the following:

• Ensure wearing protective gearings like gloves and safety google
• Ensure proper grounding of cables and equipment
• Keep cables away from explosives and hazardous chemicals.
• Use updated nautical maps and equipment.
• Evaluate the geological and environmental conditions
• Avoid overloading the cable sockets.

Cable joints are used in a wide range of electrical equipment. The primary function of a cable joint is to connect various cables of different voltages together.

They provide many benefits, including electrical insulation, mechanical protection, and strength. Joints are used with marine shipboard cables when the length of the cable is exceedingly long.

To prevent damage occurring to the cable and to ensure efficient power transmission over long distances, joints are installed. In this way, the cable can be subjected to high pressure and can work in extreme conditions effectively.

Reliable shipboard cable joints are also persecuted to dielectric, ultrasonic, and radiographic tests to make the installation even more durable and long-lasting.

Figure 6: Shipboard Cable Joint

Having multiple industrial uses, a cable gland is a tool that is used to connect a cable with electrical equipment.

They may serve as an attachment and securing of cables, ensuring safety and insulation. They are also used in hazardous environments, where they serve to prevent sparks and flames from arising, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the equipment being used.

As marine environments pose plenty of threats to the equipment, a marine cable gland works effectively to reduce the posed threat.

Shipboard cable glands are explosion-proof, moisture resistant, and available in different sizes to ensure the safety of your marine shipboard cable.

Figure 7: Shipboard Cable Glands

Multiconductor cables contain from two to multiple conductors encased within a common jacket. These cables are available in different gauges and can use up to 60 conductors, depending upon the need.

All the conductors are coiled and twisted within the same cable product. Multiconductor cables can be used in various applications such as data transmission, control circuits, and sound systems, etc.

Multiconductor shipboard cables are available in various configurations and jacket thicknesses.

Various features can be installed with multiconductor shipboard cables like armoring, annealing, tinning, and color-coding.

They are commonly used where long distances or load-bearing procedures are involved, including data and power transmission in ships and vessels.

Figure 8: Multi-Conductor Shipboard Cable

Armored cables are cables that have an additional layer of metallic coating over their outer coating. This armor provides additional insulation and strength to the cables, increasing their resistance and durability.

Armor can be of steel (SWA) or copper (CWA). Both types are used in industries over a large range of applications, usually in high voltage supplies, rendering them useful in their applications and strength.

Figure 9: Armored Shipboard Cable

Armored shipboard cables prove severely beneficial when high voltages are involved and extreme conditions are to be endured. Effective data transmission with minimum loss of signals can be achieved through the courtesy of armored shipboard cables.

Shipboard cables contain additionally installed features that provide a great many benefits to the users. Some of the advantages provided by shipboard cables are listed below:

• Fire resistant
• Flame retardant
• Low smoke emission
• Low halogen content
• High insulation
• Function efficiently in extreme conditions
• Effective transmission of both data and power

Depending upon the type and area of usage, shipboard cables can be of different types. Shipboard cables are being manufactured in a variety of sizes and configurations.

Different diameters and gauges can be applicable depending upon the area of interest.

Power and control cables can be of single to multiple cores, and their normal cross-sectional areas may vary between one square millimeter to a few hundred square millimeters.

Whereas the cores of telecommunication cables are present in pairs or triplets, ranging from one to multiple cores.

The nominal cross-section area of telecommunication shipboard cables can range between 0.75 to 2.5 square millimeters. The length of the cable can be adjusted according to the need.

Figure 11: Various Shipboard Cables

In simple words, ampacity can be defined as the capacity of a conductor to carry current in Amperes, which is a unit for electric current. It is a measure of the amount of current a conductor can safely carry and pass through it.

The ampacity of a wire or a conductor is dependent on the physical and chemical properties of the conductor, construction, insulation, temperature of operation, and environmental conditions.

Exposure to the surrounding greatly affects the ampacity of the cable. Resistance and frequency of the circuit are also factors for the ampacity of a conductor.

The ampacity of shipboard cables also varies greatly with the external environment and the number of cores. It can be calculated using formulae provided by the manufacturer.

Bandings are done on marine ships and vessels all the time. These cables are used throughout the marine industry on all types of vessels and equipment.

Some major uses of banding include dock and pier repair, pipe fastening, cable bundling, cable identification, and more.

Stainless steel bands and buckles are used with shipboard cables to provide efficient strength and resistance against a number of contaminants, making it a durable and much-needed appliance.

Figure 14: Shipboard Cable Bands

Cable hangers are widely used in a range of equipment. The main purpose of a cable hanger is to tether and support conduits. Hooks and hangers are used wherever cables and hoses are involved.

They can effectively reduce space and are rendered especially useful to avoid mess and entanglement.

In marine vessels and ships, cables are suspended using hangers that are made up of steel or rubber.

They can be used on all types of marine vessels, cruise ships, tankers, and bulk carriers to support and carry shipboard cables.

Figure 15: Shipboard Cable Hangers

Marine shipboard cables are undergone through various standards and procedures prior to shipping to ensure the best quality of the manufactured product.

Societies from all over the world offer different certifications to inform the consumer about the optimum quality standards. Some of these certifications include:

• ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
• BV (Bureau Veritas)
• LR (Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd.)
• DNV-GL
• Class-NK
• KR (Korean Register of Shipping)
• RINA (Registro Italiano Novale)
• CCS (China Classification Society)
• RS (Russian Maritime Register of Shipping)
• BKI (Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia)

The JIS C3410 standard is a Japanese standard of maritime products and vessels, which is also applicable to shipboard cables that are installed on ships for control and telecommunication purposes.

To meet the requirements of the JIS C3410 Standard, a cable needs to pass through the tests of the IEC Standards, namely the IEC 60092-3 standard.

This standard ensures the premium quality of the shipboard cable being used in ships and vessels and makes sure that the product is efficient and safe to use.

The various symbols in the JIS C3410 standard explain the number of cores, construction, configuration, and use of the shipboard cable at hand.

Figure 16: JIS C3410 Approved Cable

Shipboard cables are operational on the various voltage that is applied on ships and marine vessels. The rated voltage of each individual cable may vary according to the type of cable, the number of cores, and also the construction.

The voltages for JIS C3410 cables can fall anywhere in between low, medium, to high in different applications. In marine applications, though, the usual nominal rated voltage remains around 0.6/1.2 kV.

For control cables that are to be installed on shipboards for fixed electrical systems, the voltage rating can reach up to 18/30 kV. For instrumentation cables, the rated voltage is generally 150/250 V.

The JIS C3410 cable standard is applicable to conduits used in ships, vessels, and other maritime products.

The cables and hoses that are to be installed onboard a ship for various purposes such as power and control, telephone or others, need to pass the JIS C3410 Standard.

It specifies cables, cords, and wires intended for installation on ships and marine vessels.

The sheathing is installed on a cable external to the conductor to prevent damage and abrasion from occurring to the conductor. Sheathing reduces electrical noise and background infrared radiations from the environment and works effectively to protect the data or signal being transmitted.

The sheath can be made of different materials such as PVC, Teflon, rubber, PE, polyurethane, and others.

Shipboard cables are sheathed to provide better protection and increase the durability of the cable. The cables that are designed for telecommunication purposes, especially take use of sheathing to reduce the loss of data and signal within the conductor.

Figure 17: Sheathing in a Shipboard Cable

There are various manufacturers, and suppliers present all around the globe to provide you with efficient JIS C3410 approved cables. There is a range of companies and services to choose from. The selection of a suitable manufacturer may depend on various factors.

The credibility of the company is the main thing to look for when searching for a manufacturer. Once you find an authentic and credible manufacturer, it is important to note if they have the products that you need. Usually, there is a range of products offered by suppliers.

Sources to find manufacturers can include industry trade associations, business contacts, or online directories. All these can help in finding a potential manufacturer of shipboard cables to suit your various needs.

Shipboard cables approved by the JIS C3410 standard can be used onboard in a wide range of applications. Telecommunication is one of the applications of shipboard cables.

Intended for instrumentation tools and fixed installations, the JIS C3410 telephone cable serves as an excellent means of telecommunication and connection.

These cables pass through the IEC tests, are flame retardant and fire-resistant, contain galvanized steel armor, tinned copper conductor, and PVC covering.

Figure 18: Marine Telephone Cable

Medium Voltage cables, or simply known as MV cables, are designed to endure great physical stress in extreme environments while working at a medium voltage range.

These cables have different specifications and can be modified accordingly to adjust to the various needs of the consumers.

MV cables are designed for use in harsh conditions with great speed and efficiency. Meeting the standards of JIS C3410, they may or may not contain fiber optics core.

They are suitable for use in control boards in naval ships and vessels, where they can withstand continuous stress. Other applications also include ship and shore cranes, stack reclaimers, and other heavy moving equipment.

Figure 19: Medium Voltage Shipboard Cable

When a shipboard cable passes through the JIS C3410 standard, certain symbols are assigned to it in accordance with the structure and configuration of the cable.

A DPYC cable is a power and lighting cable used on shipboards that is dual-cored, meaning there are two conductors inside the sheath, and the insulation is done of EP rubber.

External to the rubber is a PVC sheath, and the armoring is done via a steel wire braid. This marks the construction of a DPYC cable.

The rest of the dimensions such as rated voltage, length, and diameter of the cable may vary according to the needs of the consumer and the area of usage.

Figure 20: A DPYC Cable

According to the JIS C3410 standard of maritime equipment, a TPYC cable is a cable containing three cores of tinned copper conductors in the middle, with insulation of EP rubber (P stands for PE rubber).

The “Y” is designated for PVC (polyvinylchloride) sheathing that is external to the insulating layer. Being an armored wire, TPYC shipboard cables also contain steel wire braid that serves to provide extra protection and coverage to the cable, as indicated by “C.”

Figure 21: TPYC Cable

TPYC cables area high voltage power cables that are operational in maritime equipment at a rated voltage of around 3.6/6 kV and 6/10 kV.

A TTYC cable, as approved by the JIS C3410 standard, is a telephone and communications cable used in marine and offshore equipment. Being an instrumentation cable, TTYC cables have a rated voltage of 150/250 V. They are often flame-retardant according to the JIS C3410 and IEC standards.

The three cores of a TTYC cable are stranded annealed copper wires, which are insulated with PVC layering.

The sheathing material is also of PVC, as is the external jacket. Armoring is achieved through a braid of galvanized steel wires, and the whole assembly is available in a color-coded covering.

Figure 22: TTYC Cable

Multi-core power cables are used in marine environments on ships and vessels for a range of functions.

Usually used as control and signal cables, the MPYC shipboard cables operate at a rated voltage of 150/250 V and are in accordance with the JIS C3410 and IEC standards.

The multiple cores of this cable are stranded tinned annealed copper, insulated by EPR as per JIS C3410.

The sheathing is done via PVC, and a braid of galvanized steel wire is also installed as armor. The radical thickness of sheath and insulation, as well as the nominal diameter of the cable, varies according to the number of cores, which can reach up to 80 in a single cable.

Figure 23: MPYC Cable

The TTYCSLA cable is a specifically designed conduit intended for telecommunication and instrumentational purposes. As per the JIS C3410 standards, this cable consists of three cores of stranded annealed copper wires.

The insulation is done of PVC, as the Y indicates, and they often exhibit flame retardant properties. The sheathing on this cable is done with PVC, and the armor is a braid of galvanized steel wires to provide extra protection.

These cables are overall shielded with aluminum foil-mylar tape and drain wire. The additional protective covering of PVC is also installed.

TTYCSLA cables are triple cored, JIS C3410 approved shielded cables that are used in marine vessels, naval ships, and maritime equipment.

The principle use of TTYCSLA cables is as telephone and instrumentation cable, which can be installed on naval and cruise ships etc.

SPYC cables are used onboard in ships and cruises as power and lighting cables. The single-core of a SPYC cable consists of copper strands that are tinned and annealed.

The conductor is then enclosed in an insulating layer of EPR and an additional sheathing of PVC. The “C” indicates the armoring of galvanized steel wires braided together.

Figure 25: SPYC Shipboard Cable

DPYC and TPYC shipboard cables are used in naval and cruise ships for various purposes. As per the JIS C3410 standards, there are two cores in the DPYC cable and three in the TPYC cable.

The conducting cores are stranded copper that is annealed and tinned, surrounded by protective coverings.

In the JIS C3410 standard, FA means flame retardant. It is also in accordance with the IEC 60332-3-22 Category-A standard.

All marine grade cables are required to pass through this test, as it ensures the safety of vessels and offshore installments. It makes sure that the cable does not propagate fire.

FR in JIS C3410 means fire resistant. It is in accordance with the IEC 60331-21 test that is run on marine shipboard cables to ensure the resistance offered by shipboard cables against fire.

Owing to the inflammable material used in the construction of these cables, shipboard cables can be subjected to high temperatures without catching fire. This also prevents a fire from spreading and ensures the safety of the vessel and the equipment.

Shipboard cables are of various types depending upon their design, construction, and configuration. Approved by the JIS C3410 standards, some armored and PVC covered shipboard cables include:

• SPYCBY, TPYCY cables that are used for high voltages
• SPYCY, DPYCY, TPYCY, DPYCYSLA, TPYCYSLA for power and lighting applications
• MPYCY, MPYCY-S, MPYCYSLA as control and signal cables
• MPYCY, TTYCY, TTYCYSLA for telephone and instrumentation purposes

SPYCB shipboard cables are unshielded, armored, and single cored high voltage cables used in marine environments. They are designed to function at high voltages such as 3.6/6 kV and 6/10 kV.

As per JIS C3410 standard, SPYCB cables contain a single core of tinned annealed copper conductor, which is insulated by EP rubber. The sheath surrounding the insulator is of PVC.

Armoring is done through braided copper alloy wire, which is applicable only on single cores. Other aspects of the cable, such as size, nominal diameter, and radial thickness, may vary.