Shipboard cables — FAQ

Shipboard cables are widely used in the marine industry because it’s their target applications. Here is everything you need to know about the wiring.

What are Shipboard cables?

A shipboard wire is electrical wiring designed to be used on offshore platforms and watercraft, which includes ships, vessels, and submarines, among all. Because these operate in environments that are extremely demanding, cables designed for general purpose applications would not be able to handle these harsh environments.

Shipboard cables are resistant to a variety of damaging factors, including salty water and the corrosion it causes, moisture and water, as well as oils. This makes shipboard cables extremely well-performing and long-lasting in marine applications.

What are Shipboard cable applications?

Shipboard cables are suitable for a number of applications in watercraft, like control, communication, instrumentation, and power systems.

• Control systems allow the automation of water vessels so that they can operate on their own. The shipboard wiring is used in these control systems.
• Communication systems in water vessels ensure proper connection between vessels and various devices. The cables help connect the system to the vessel.
• Instrumentation includes sensors, navigators, and other equipment connected to the vessel for proper working. These track the vessel’s condition and notify the crew in case of any issues. Shipboard wiring connects the instrumentation to make sure the crew is up-to-date with the vessel’s functionality.
• Power systems are essential on watercraft to enable all the listed capabilities. Shipboard cables are used to power all systems on the vessel.

What is the construction of Shipboard cables?

Most often, shipboard cables feature tinned copper conductors because they are resistant to corrosion and oxidation while still having great conducting properties. The insulation and jacket of shipboard wires can be made of various materials, like different types of rubber for insulation and XLP(O) for the jacket — these enhance the wiring’s resistance to damaging surroundings.

What are the MIL-C-M24643 and M24640 standards?

The Mil-specs standards in the wiring industry stand for regulations on toxicity, smoke, and flammability of a cable. If a wire is compliant with these, it follows the regulations the specs refer to. These two standards are applied to naval ship builds, and shipboard cables comply with these regulations. In detail, the M24643 standard refers to low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) wiring, meaning that little smoke and no toxic fumes are released when the cable is burning. The M24640 spec, in turn, refers to lightweight shipboard cables that release little smoke when in contact with fire.

Where to buy Shipboard cables?

Shipboard wires are sold in any electrical cable store like Nassau National Cable since these are widely used in the marine industry. In case you need more information on the type of shipboard cable you need for your project, check out the store’s catalog to find different marine cables or reach out to the support team for a detailed consultation.