Submarine Cable Solutions
Power, HVDC, Fiber Optic & Dynamic Marine Cable | Engineered for Offshore Wind, Oil & Gas Platforms, Inter-Island Power Links and Subsea Telecommunications
HVAC up to 500kV | HVDC up to 525kV | Water Depth: up to 3,000m Rated Armour | IEC 60840 · IEC 62067 · IEC 60502 Certified | DNV · Bureau Veritas · Lloyd's Register | Single-Wire & Double-Wire Armour Available
Submarine Cables’ three main markets for ZMS are offshore oil, transoceanic power transmission, and offshore wind. Marine cables are used in special applications and therefore have more stringent quality requirements. As we at ZMS Power continue to grow and develop, the functional range of specialty cables is also expanding, so you will always find a specialty cable that meets your specific requirements. If there is no special cable that meets your requirements, we can customize cables with special characteristics for your particular application to achieve your specific purpose or task.
Our Submarine Cable Products
ZMS submarine cables are engineered for reliability in the world’s most demanding marine environments. Click any product type to explore technical specifications, available constructions, and project documentation.
XLPE or EPR insulated submarine power cables for inter-island power links, offshore platform supply, river crossings, and export connections for offshore renewable energy. Three-core construction for voltages up to 132kV; single-core for 220kV and above. Galvanised steel wire armour rated for water depths up to 1,000m (standard) or 3,000m (deep-water version).
Voltage/Specification Range: HVAC 3.6/6kV – 127/220kV; Cross-sectional area 70–2,500mm²
Certification Standards: IEC 60502; IEC 60840; IEC 62067
Mass-impregnated (MI) and XLPE-insulated HVDC submarine cables for long-distance bulk power transmission across seas and straits. HVDC submarine cables carry power with significantly lower losses than HVAC over distances exceeding 80km. Available in bipole and monopole configurations up to 525kV DC.
Voltage/Specification Range: HVDC Up to ±525kV DC, cross-sectional area 630–2,500mm²
Certification Standards: IEC 60840 IEC 62067 CIGRE TB-490
Submarine fiber optic cables for inter-continental telecommunications, inter-island broadband links, offshore platform data transmission, and real-time offshore wind turbine monitoring. Armoured lightweight (LW), single armour (SA), and double armour (DA) types for different water depths and burial protection requirements.
Voltage/Specification Range: Single Mode (G.652 / G.654) Fiber count: 2–144 cores
Certification Standards: IEC 60794-4 ITU-T G.652 ITU-T G.654
Dynamic marine cables are designed for applications where the cable must flex continuously with wave motion, platform movement, or tidal action. Used for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT), FPSOs, semi-submersible platforms, and wave energy converters. High fatigue resistance with bend restrictor and I/J-tube installation support.
Voltage/Specification Range: Up to 66kV (FOWT typical) Cross-sectional area 35–400mm²
Certification Standards: IEC 60092 DNV-ST-0359 ABS / BV
Submarine Cable Armour Selection Guide
The armour type for a submarine cable is determined by the water depth, seabed conditions, installation method, and whether the cable will be buried or left exposed on the seabed. Use the guide below to identify the correct armour specification for your project:
Armor Type | / | Structure | Maximum Water Depth | Applicable Scenarios | Recommended Occasions |
Lightweight Armor | LW | Single-layer steel wire armor with a relatively thin diameter | 50–200m | No risk of mechanical damage in deep water areas; fiber optic transmission in deep water sections. | Deep-water sections of transoceanic telecommunications cables and deep-water areas without anchor threats |
Single Armor | SA | Single-layer galvanized steel wire armor, standard model | 200–1,000m | Continental shelf, island interconnection, nearshore power transmission | The most common type of armored submarine power cable, suitable for most submarine projects. |
Double Armor | DA | Two layers of cross-wound galvanized steel wire | 800–3,000m | Deep-water areas with strong currents, rocky seabeds, and areas with high risk of mechanical damage. | Deepwater oil and gas platforms, areas with complex sea conditions, and nearshore sections with high risk of damage from shellfish/fishing nets. |
Burial Armour | — | Heavy-duty double-layer armor + outer polypropylene rope | 0–200m nearshore | Shallow waters near the shore require mechanical burial depth protection. | Nearshore sections with high risks of anchor collisions with fishing boats, including harbors, estuaries, intertidal zones, and areas prone to such collisions. |
Unarmored (bare cable) | — | No steel wire armor, only HDPE outer sheath | Submarine platform jumper short section | Extremely short distance connection between platforms (<50m), no risk of mechanical damage. | Short-segment connections between offshore platforms, internal cabling of J-tube |
Selection Recommendation: For most nearshore (<500m water depth) and island interconnection projects, single-layer armored (SA) cables are sufficient. Deepwater oil and gas and offshore wind power export cables require armor specifications to be determined based on route survey results. The ZMS engineering team can provide armor specification recommendations free of charge based on your route conditions.
Submarine Power Cable – Reference Specifications
The following table provides reference specifications for typical submarine HVAC power cable configurations. Actual parameters are subject to project-specific design calculations. Contact us with your route length, water depth, and power requirement for a tailored technical proposal.
A. 3-Core MV Submarine Cable
Rated Voltage | Cross-Sectional Area Range | Outer Diameter (approx.) | Weight (approx.) | Maximum Water Depth (standard armor) | Standard |
3.6/6kV | 70–300mm² | 80–130mm | 15–35 kg/m | 500m（SA） | IEC 60502-2 |
6.35/11kV | 95–400mm² | 90–150mm | 18–45 kg/m | 500m（SA） | IEC 60502-2 |
12.7/22kV | 120–400mm² | 100–160mm | 22–50 kg/m | 800m（DA） | IEC 60502-2 |
19/33kV | 150–500mm² | 110–175mm | 26–60 kg/m | 800m（DA） | IEC 60502-2 |
26/45kV | 185–630mm² | 125–195mm | 32–75 kg/m | 1,000m（DA） | IEC 60840 |
64/110kV | 240–800mm² | 150–230mm | 45–110 kg/m | 1,500m（DA） | IEC 60840 |
76/132kV | 400–1,000mm² | 170–260mm | 55–140 kg/m | 2,000m（DA） | IEC 60840 |
B. Single-Core HV/EHV
Rated Voltage | Configuration | Cross-Sectional Area | Lead Sleeve | Standard | Typical Applications |
127/220kV | Single core x 3 | 630–2,500mm² | Yes (radial waterproofing) | IEC 62067 | Intercity strait crossing, offshore wind power export |
190/330kV | Single core x 3 | 1,000–2,500mm² | yes | IEC 62067 | Large-capacity cross-sea power transmission |
290/500kV HVAC | Single core x 3 | 1,600–2,500mm² | yes | IEC 62067 | Cross-sea section of backbone power grid |
±320kV HVDC | Monopolar or bipolar | 1,000–2,500mm² | (MI) or XLPE | IEC 62067 / CIGRE | Long-distance DC submarine cables have lower losses than HVAC cables. |
±525kV HVDC | Monopolar or bipolar | 1,600–2,500mm² | （MI）or P-Laser | IEC 62067 / CIGRE | Ultra-long distance, high-capacity DC transmission |
Submarine Power Cable Construction – Layer by Layer
Conductor: Standard copper or lightweight aluminum material, conductors are round, compacted and stranded, and must be tightly compacted to reduce the outer diameter and reduce buoyancy loss.
Conductor Screen: Extruding semiconductive cross-linked material eliminates electric field concentration on the conductor surface. IEC 60840/62067 standard requires co-extrusion with three layers of insulation.
Insulation: XLPE, EPR, and MI paper are the main types of insulation materials. XLPE is the most common, while EPR offers better water tree suppression and is suitable for applications where water may enter the cable. MI paper is used for high-voltage HVDC cables as it does not have thermal expansion issues.
Metal Sheath: Lead alloy sheath (standard HV/EHV) or copper tape shielding (MV). The lead sheath provides a complete radial water barrier, preventing seawater from penetrating the insulation layer, and is an essential layer for submarine high-voltage cables. Copper tape shielding is used for medium voltage (≤33kV).
Water Blocking: PE waterproof tape, aluminum-plastic composite tape. An additional waterproof layer outside the lead sheath to prevent seawater from entering if the lead sheath is damaged by mechanical force.
Inner Sheath: Polyethylene, which is made by filling three single or multiple cores into a circle and fixing the relative positions between the cores.
Filler: PP rope or PE filler strips are used to fill the gaps between the three cores to ensure a round shape and prevent the armored steel wire from embedding.
Armour: Galvanized steel wire (standard) or stainless steel wire (corrosive environment). Single-layer (SA) or double-layer (DA) steel wire cross-wound. The wire diameter is determined according to water depth and tensile strength requirements, typically 3–8 mm.
Outer Serving: Polypropylene (PP) rope + asphalt, with a polyethylene (PE) outer sheath. The PP rope provides an armored protective layer, while the asphalt offers corrosion protection. The deep-water version uses a PE outer sheath instead of PP rope to prevent damage from deep-water pressure.
A. International Electricity Standards (IEC)
IEC 60502-2: Medium-voltage submarine power cables (3.6/6kV–18/30kV)
IEC 60840: High-voltage submarine power cables (36kV–150kV)
IEC 62067: Ultra-high-voltage submarine power cables (>150kV) and HVDC
IEC 60228: Conductor specifications (conductor structure and resistance requirements)
IEC 62895: Land-based HVDC cables (for landing sections)
B. Marine and Offshore Certification Bodies
DNV: Det Norske Veritas (Norwegian Classification Society), applicable to North Sea oil and gas, Nordic offshore wind power, and global FPSO projects.
Bureau Veritas (BV): French classification society standard, applicable to French-speaking offshore projects and global oil and gas platforms.
Lloyd’s Register (LR): British Lloyd’s Register standard, applicable to UK, Commonwealth, and GCC offshore projects.
ABS: American Bureau of Shipping standard, applicable to American offshore projects and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas.
CIGRE TB-490: International Large Electric Networks Working Group technical report, an industry reference standard for HVDC submarine cable design and testing.
Please provide us with your required cable quotations, and we will provide you with excellent cable solutions.
C. Special Standards for Dynamic Submarine Cables
DNV-ST-0359: Floating offshore wind power dynamic cables; the most authoritative standard for the design, testing, and certification of dynamic submarine cables.
IEC 60092-376: Power cables for ships and offshore platforms; NEK 606 (Norway) is a commonly used implementation version of IEC 60092.
API RP 17B: Umbilical cables and dynamic submarine cables; design reference for umbilical cables in the petrochemical industry.
Submarine Cable Applications
Offshore Wind Power Export Cables: Submarine power cables are the lifeline of offshore wind farms, carrying generated power from the offshore substation to the onshore grid connection point. ZMS supplies 33kV, 66kV, 132kV, and 220kV submarine export cables with single or double armour for water depths up to 2,000m. Our offshore wind cables are available with DNV and Bureau Veritas certification for projects in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Inter-Island Power Transmission: Isolated islands without access to mainland power grids rely on submarine power cables for their electricity supply. ZMS supplies 3-core submarine cables from 11kV to 132kV for inter-island power links in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, including island projects in Oman, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Offshore Oil & Gas Platforms: Offshore oil platforms, FPSOs, and subsea wellhead systems require reliable submarine power and data cables for platform electrification, subsea control systems, and communication. ZMS supplies DNV-certified HVAC submarine cables for platform supply and dynamic marine cables for FPSO and floating platform applications requiring continuous flexing.
Strait & River Crossings: High voltage submarine cables are used to cross rivers, estuaries, and sea straits where overhead lines or underground cables are impractical. ZMS supplies 33kV to 500kV submarine cables for strait crossings, with project experience in river delta, tidal estuaries, and straits up to 50km in width. HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) installation available for shallow water entry and exit points.
Why Choose ZMS Cable?
Cable Customization
ZMS submarine cables are manufactured by GB, IEC, and other international standards and include a wide range of industry applications, but sometimes it is necessary to customize the cable or customize the cable solution according to the needs of the application. You can provide the specifications, cross section area, dimensions, materials, etc. of the undersea cable that needs to be customized. Our technical team can work with you to customize the cable to meet your specific application needs.
ZMS Qualification
ZMS has been qualified by the ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, and ISO 14001 systems successfully. The whole quality assurance system covers the design and engineering, raw material selection, manufacturing, FAT, load out, and also the service for site testing and maintenance. The submarine power cable has been qualified by different kinds of Reports and certificates according to IEC, ICEA, and CIGRE standards: e.g. KEMA type test report, Type test report issued by SECRI in Shanghai, DNV, BV, SGS inspection report, etc.
Experienced Manufacturer
ZMS can also offer cables with different sheathing, screening, taping & armoring options as per customer’s specific requirements. we can also offer cables suitable for superior fire performance characteristics as well as with low smoke & fume (LSF or LOSH/LOZH) properties. special features like longitudinal water sealing of conductors & cu screens, radial water sealing of cu screens as well as different colours of outer sheath can be provided on request.
FAQ – Submarine Cable
HVAC (High Voltage Alternating Current) submarine cables transmit power using alternating current at standard grid frequencies (50Hz or 60Hz). They are available in three-core configurations up to 132kV and single-core for 220kV to 500kV. HVAC cables are simpler, lower cost, and use standard grid equipment at both ends. However, HVAC cables have significant reactive power generation (charging current) that limits their economical transmission distance to approximately 50–80km depending on voltage level. HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) submarine cables transmit power as direct current, eliminating reactive charging current and enabling efficient transmission over hundreds or thousands of kilometres with no technical length limit. HVDC requires converter stations at each end, which adds significant cost. HVDC submarine cables are the standard choice for distances over 80km, large-scale offshore wind farm connections to shore, and inter-continental power links. ZMS supplies both HVAC submarine cables and HVDC submarine cables to IEC 62067 and CIGRE standards.
The maximum operating water depth for a submarine cable depends on the armour type and the tensile load during installation and operation. As a general guide: Single Armour (SA) submarine cables are rated for water depths up to 500–1,000m for standard configurations and up to 1,500m for heavy single armour. Double Armour (DA) submarine cables are designed for water depths of 800m to 3,000m. Lightweight (LW) armour is used for deep water sections in telecommunications submarine cables, typically beyond 1,000m where mechanical damage risk from anchors and fishing gear is negligible. For oil and gas platform cables installed at depths of 100–3,000m, the cable must also withstand dynamic loading from platform movement — these require dynamic marine cable design with enhanced fatigue resistance. ZMS can supply cables for all water depths. Please provide your project water depth profile and installation method (burial or surface lay) for a specific armour recommendation.
A dynamic submarine cable (also called a dynamic marine cable) is designed to flex continuously and repeatedly without fatigue failure, unlike a static submarine cable that is laid on the seabed and remains stationary. Dynamic cables are required whenever the cable must move with the structure it is connected to, including floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT), FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels), semi-submersible drilling platforms, and wave energy converters. The cable must withstand millions of flex cycles over a 25–30 year design life under combined effects of wave motion, current, and tension. Dynamic cables use specially designed conductor construction (fine-wire stranding), fatigue-resistant insulation and sheath compounds, and are often installed with bend restrictors, buoyancy modules, and I-tube or J-tube connectors at the floater interface. Design and certification typically follows DNV-ST-0359 or IEC 60092-376. ZMS supplies dynamic marine cables for floating offshore applications.
Submarine Cable Catalog
ZMS SUBMARINE CABLE CATALOG
ZMS provides our partners around the world with brochures of our cable products, including aerial cables, submarine cables, control cables and other types of special cables, and more.
If you don’t know how to choose the product you need, or don’t find the cable type and size you need on this page, don’t worry. Contact us and send us your requirements, we can help you choose the right cable. You can provide us with the following information: cable voltage, conductor material, insulation and sheath material, shield type, armor type, etc. or you can provide us with cable installation environment, application requirements, etc. We will serve you wholeheartedly. ZMS cable supplier has a number of quality certifications: ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO14000, ISO14001, ISO18000, CE, IEC, BS, NFC, ASTM, DIN, etc.