Electrical and electro-optical mooring links for buoy based ocean observatories

Abstract

Buoy-based moored observatories require a reliable strength member and conductor linkage between sea floor instrumentation and surface platforms. Both electrical conductors and optical light-guides can only survive if they are strained within their low elastic elongation limit, and if in addition the cable design avoids excessive curvature and point pressure of the optical fibers. All lightweight cables with textile strength members have working elongations in excess of the conductor stretch limits. Cable-like lightweight mooring members with considerable stretch are presented which maintain a comfort zone for their conductors. These design include lightweight electro-mechanical (EM) and electro-optical mechanical (EOM) mooring cables, and textile tire cord reinforced rubber stretch hoses with integral electrical and optical conductors. Finally, recent experience with an EOM cable as part of an ocean observatory mooring, deployed offshore California, is discussed in terms of its reliability under serve storm conditions.