Page 42 - The TM Submarine Cable Book
P. 42
4: The Connectors
Submarine cable The typical submarine cable onward
connectivity, from foreign end to TM’s
laying and onward terrestrial network.
connectivity
Submarine cables are laid using special
cable layer ships, such as the modern
René Descartes (ship) [fr], operated by
Orange Marine.
A cable layer or cable ship is a
deep-sea vessel designed and
used to lay underwater cables for
telecommunications, electric
power transmission, or other
purposes.
Cable ships are distinguished by
large cable sheaves for guiding
cable over bow or stern or both.
Bow sheaves, some very large,
were characteristic of all cable
ships in the past, but newer ships
are tending toward having stern
sheaves only.
The first transatlantic telegraph
cable was laid by cable layers from
1857–58. 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.
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