Method of moving subsea cable end

Abstract

A method of moving a subsea cable end (2) and supported fitting (4) on a vessel deck (30) between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position. The method comprises locating the subsea cable end (2) with a protection cage (40) on a deck-support (20); and moving the protection cage (40) and deck-support (20) around the vessel deck (30) to the on-board cable-holding position.

Description

[0001] METHOD OF MOVING SUBSEA CABLE END

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a method of handling a cable, preferably offshore. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to method of moving a subsea cable end and supported fitting on a vessel deck between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position.

[0004] Background

[0005] Cables are handled in the renewable energy field. For example, floating offshore structures may have several power cables for transporting energy. An offshore structure producing energy has normally at least a power cable connected to the offshore structure. This allows electric energy to be transferred from the offshore structure. Cables are connected to and from facilities and ancillaries may be fitted to a cable, especially if the cable is a subsea cable. Such ancillaries may be a bend stiffener, weights, protections, floaters. How to handle cables in these circumstances are a problem. How to handle the cable on a vessel deck is a problem. The cable may twist, rotate around its own axis, and this causes problems when handling the cable. A certain length of the cable end may be handled. How to take care of the end of the cable and that cable length is a problem. Any ancillaries on the cable should be protected from damages, for example impacts during handling.

[0006] Where a cable has a damageable fitting on it, it is a problem how to handle the cable without damaging the fitting. Handling includes adding a fitting to the cable onshore or offshore, and laying, parking, deploying or installing the cable and fitting. It is very cumbersome, expensive, and time consuming to repair, if at all possible, a damaged fitting. A further problem is that the power cable and the fitting may rotate during the handling.

[0007] Traditionally a crane is used for handling the cable on a vessel deck. However, the handling is then limited to the capabilities of the crane. A cable may be very heavy. The coordination between the crane and other equipment on the vessel during handling is a further problem and creates easily situations where personnel may be injured.

[0008] The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above. Summary

[0009] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method of moving a subsea cable end and supported fitting on a vessel deck between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position. This objective can be achieved by the features as defined in the independent claims. Further characteristics are defined by the dependent claims.

[0010] According to one aspect, there is provided a method of moving a subsea cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 on a vessel deck 30 between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position, comprising at least: locating the subsea cable end 2 with a protection cage 40 on a deck-support 20; and moving the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 around the vessel deck 6 to the on-board cable-holding position. The fitting 4 may be held within the protection cage 40. The on-board cable-holding position may be a cable reel 30 or a carousel. The protection cage 40 may comprise one or more supports 14 configured to secure the fitting 4 within the protection cage 40. The protection cage 40 may be configured to allow rotation of the cable end 2 and fitting 4 within the protection cage 40 relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable, or configured to rotate with the cable end 2 and fitting 4 relative to the vessel deck. The method further comprises allowing such rotation of the cable end 2 and fitting 4.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the protection cage 40 may be for handling a fitting 4 on a subsea cable 2, the subsea cable extending along an axis, the protection cage having a frame, the frame being able to be opened and closed to surround the fitting, wherein the protection cage is configured to support the fitting therewithin, and is configured to allow rotation of the fitting and subsea cable around the axis. The axis is the longitudinal axis of the subsea cable. The rotation may be rotation of the fitting and the subsea cable relative to the protection cage and / or rotation of the fitting, subsea cable, and protection cage relative to the surrounding, for example a factory floor or vessel deck. The rotation may be realised by the outer shape of the protection cage, for example a circular, tubular, or round shape. The rotation may be realised by means inside the protection cage, for example between the fitting and the protection cage. One or more embodiments may allow the protection cage with the cable end and with the fitting to be put down, handled, and / or parked without worrying about the rotational orientation of the cable due to torsion when moving the cable. According to one embodiment, the deck support 20 may be a sleigh. The deck support 20 may comprise two or more flat deck-rails 24. The fitting 4 may be a bend-stiffener and the cable maybe a power cable.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise moving the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 between the onboarding position and the deck-support 20, or moving the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 between the on-board cable-holding position and the deck-support 20. The protection cage 40 may be automatically connected at the on-board cable-holding position to a cable reel 8 or a carousel, by the protection cage 40 further comprising one or more catchment means 22, for connecting and / or aligning the protection cage 40 to the cable reel or the carousel. The method may further comprise reeling the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 onto and / or off a cable reel or carousel. The method may further comprise guiding a part of the cable end 2 overboard the vessel deck 30.

[0013] At least one of the aspects and embodiments defined in the present application provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment or embodiments.

[0014] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The disclosure will be further described with reference to examples depicted as schematic illustrations in the accompanying figures in which:

[0016] FIGs 1 to 4 and 7 are schematic illustrations of a method of moving a subsea cable end and supported fitting on a vessel deck between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIG 5 is a schematic illustration of a protection cage according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG 6 is a schematic illustration of a deck support and a protection cage according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGs 8 to 11 are schematic illustrations of a method and system of moving a subsea cable end and supported fitting on a vessel deck between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position.

[0019] Detailed Description

[0020] Power cables may be stored subsea, and this may be called a wet-parked power cable. A wet-parked cable may be brought from subsea to an onboarding position on a vessel. Where the cable has a damageable fitting on it, care must be taken to ensure that the fitting on the cable is not damaged. The cable may twist, rotate around its own axis, when it is moved or handled, especially when spooled. The cable may be spooled at an on-board cable holding position. Figures 1 to 4 and 7 are schematic illustrations in sequence of a method of moving a subsea cable end and supported fitting on a vessel deck between an onboarding position and an onboard cable-holding position according to an illustrated example embodiment of the invention. The method of moving from an onboarding position to an on-board cableholding position is illustrated by the sequence of figures 1 to 4 and 7; while the reverse, method of moving from on-board cable-holding position to an onboarding position is illustrated by the sequence of figures 7 and 4 to 1. The onboarding position may be a position on a vessel where the subsea cable is brought onto the vessel. The on-board cable-holding position may be a position where the cable is stored or held on the vessel, for example a cable reel, a carousel, or similar.

[0021] According to one embodiment, a method of moving a subsea cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 on a vessel deck 6 between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position is provided. The method comprises at least locating the subsea cable end 2 with a protection cage 40 on a deck-support 20; and moving the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 around the vessel deck 30 to the onboard cable-holding position. The subsea cable end 2 may be the end of a subsea power cable, from the very end to include the supported fitting 4. The supported fitting 4 may be a bend stiffener. The subsea cable end 2 may be from the end of the subsea cable to the lower end of the bend stiffener 4. The cable end 2 may include a pig tail 5. The cable end 2 may include further length of the subsea cable, for example the first 150 meters of the cable, or any predetermined length of the first end of the cable 2 that may be taken onboard a vessel to be handled. The protection cage 40 may be any embodiment of the protection cage 40 as described herein. The deck support 20 may be any embodiment of the deck support 20 as described herein. Figures 5 and 6 are schematic illustrations of a protection cage and a deck support according to an illustrated example embodiment of the invention. The subsea cable end 2 with the supported fitting may be located in the protection cage 40. Preferably the fitting 4 may be entirely, or only partly, within the protection cage 40. The protection cage 40 is placed on the deck-support 20 and then the decksupport 20, with the protection cage 40, may be moved via different positions on the vessel deck to the on-board cable-holding position.

[0022] The on-board cable-holding position may be a cable reel 6 or a carousel. The cable end 2 with the supported fitting 4 in the protection cage 40 on the deck-support 20 may be moved to a cable reel 6 or a carousel. A wire 72 may be connected to the cable end 2, or the protection cage 40, or the deck-support 20, and may thereby pull, move, the cable end 2 with the supported fitting 4, and this may include the protection cage 40 on the deck-support 20 as well.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the protection cage 40 may comprise one or more supports 18 configured to secure the fitting 4 within the protection cage 40. The protection cage 40 may be configured to allow rotation of the cable end 2 and fitting 4 within the protection cage 40 relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable, or configured to rotate with the cable end 2 and fitting 4 relative to the vessel deck. The method may further comprise allowing such rotation of the cable end 2 and fitting 4. The protection cage 40 may be elongate and at least partly circular in cross-section along a longitudinal axis.

[0024] As may best be taken from figures 5 and 6, the protection cage 40 is suitable for handling a fitting 4 on a subsea cable 2. The subsea cable 2 extending along an axis, the axis being along the length of the subsea cable 2. The protection cage 40 may comprise a frame 8, 10, 12, the frame 8, 10, 12 being able to be opened and closed to surround the fitting 4. The cage 2 is configured to support the fitting 4 therewithin, and is configured to allow rotation of the fitting 4 and cable 6 around the axis. The fitting 4, with the cable 2, may rotate relative to the frame 8, 10, 12. The frame 8, 10, 12, with the cable 2 and the fitting 4, may rotate around the axis, i.e. relative to any environment.

[0025] The frame 8, 10, 12 may be elongate and circular in cross-section along a longitudinal axis, to form a tubular shape. The frame 8, 10, 12 has a cross-section wholly or substantially larger than the largest cross-section of the fitting 4. The frame 8, 10, 12 may comprise an open structure comprising a plurality of outer rings 10, 12 connected by a plurality of longitudinal struts 8. The end-most outer rings 12 may include a raised circumferential ring 26.

[0026] The frame 8, 10, 12 may comprises two or more pivots 14 to allow the frame to move between an open position to receive the fitting 4, and a closed position shown in figures 1, 4, and 5 to protect the fitting 4. Where the frame 8 is formed of two pivotable half-shells, the two pivots 14 provide the connection between the halfshells. There may be lock or clamps opposite the two pivots to lock the protection cage in the closed position.

[0027] The protection cage may further include one or more supports 18 configured to secure the fitting within the frame 8, 10, 12. A schematic illustrations of the supports may best be taken from figure 5. Each support 18 can comprise means particularly configured to complement the shape of the fitting, such as a collar able to form a secure circumferential meeting and matching with an outer surface of the fitting 4, or the cable 6 near the fitting 4. Each support 18 may be modular so that the protection cage 2 can be configured to hold a specific fitting 4.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the deck support 20 may be a sleigh. The deck support 20 may comprise two or more flat deck-rails 24. The deck support 20 may be configured to allow rotation of the fitting 4 relative to the deck support.

[0029] Figure 6 schematically illustrates the protection cage 40 on the deck-support 20. The deck-support 20 may be configured to receive the protection cage 40. The deck-support 20 may have skie like rails 24 for moving the deck-support 42 on a vessel deck or factory floor or similar. The deck-support 20 comprises, for example, a cradle, having a complementary shape to at least part of the protection cage 40, so as to meet and match the frame 8, 10, 12 of the protection cage 40. The decksupport 20 may comprise, for example, support frames configured for supporting the outer shape of the protection cage 2.

[0030] The deck-support 20 may also be configured to allow rotation of the fitting 4 and cable 2 relative to the deck-support 20. The deck support 20 may comprise a number of the semi-circular support frames with the end-most support frames having a slot or groove therein, having a complementary shape to the raised circumferential rings 26 of the end-most outer rings 12 of the frame 12. This is one example how rotational movement of the fitting 4 and cable 2 relative to the surrounding may be made.

[0031] The deck-support 20 may comprises a deck-facing surface comprising one or more rails 24. The rails can be flat to allow the deck-support to be moveable on the surface, optionally with deck guidance means. Such flat rails 24 allows movement of the deck-support 20 and the protection cage 40 without allowing them to roll away when a vessel deck moves. Figure 6 shows an example of the deck-support 20 and the protection cage 40 with the fitting 4 and cable 2 ready for movement, optionally securable together in use, for example using one or more catches or locking means. The protection cage 40 may be attached to fitting 4, and merely form fitted for rotation on the deck-support 20.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the fitting 4 may be a bend-stiffener. According to one embodiment, the cable end 2 may be a power cable, such as an electric power cable. Preferably both the fitting 4 and the cable 2 are suitable to be used subsea, preferably in connection to a floating platform for renewable energy, such as a wind turbine.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the method may comprise providing the subsea cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 at the onboarding position by the protection cage 40 being configured to be supported by, or positioned on, a cable system 60. The cable system may be configured to provide the subsea cable end 2 and the supported fitting 4 on a vessel deck 6 in the onboarding position. The cable system 60 may be a lay tower 60 as illustrated in figures 1 to 3, but is not limited to a lay tower and may be a chute or any other kind of system for laying a subsea cable or a system for retrieving a subsea cable, for example on-boarding to, or off-boarding from, a vessel.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the cable system 60 may be configured to transfer the cable end 2 and the supported fitting 4 between a vessel deck 6 and a subsea location. The method may further comprise attaching or removing the protection cage 40 to or from, respectively, the supported fitting 4. Figures 1 and 2 shows the protection cage 40 being configured to be supported on a cable system 60, for example a lay tower 60. The lay tower 60 is mounted on a deck 30 of a vessel. The lay tower 60 may have a handling arm and an arcuate guide.

[0035] Figures 2 to 3 shows the fitting 4 on the cable 2 fitted within the frame 8, 10, 12, to allow protection of the fitting 4 during movement between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position on the vessel for work thereon. Such work may include the installation of one or more further elements onto the cable 2, such as buoyancy aids or the like, prior to redeployment of the cable 2 into the sea. Figures 1 to 3 also shows a cable winch 80 and a winch wire 82 along the lay tower 60 for handling the cable 2. The cable 2 with the fitting 4 is illustrated in the protection cage 40 held by the cable system 60 in figures 2 and 3. The protection cage 40 with the fitting may be positioned onto the deck-support 20 and moved around on the deck 30 of the vessel, for example, around a guide quadrant 32 on the vessel deck 30.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise moving the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 between the onboarding position and the deck-support 20. According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise moving the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 between the onboard cable-holding position and the deck-support 20. The supported fitting 4 may be inside the protection cage 40 and moved between the deck-support 20 and the onboarding position, for example from the cable system 60 to the deck-support 20. The supported fitting 4 may be inside the protection cage 40 and moved between the deck-support 20 and the on-board cable-holding position, for example from the cable reel 6 to the deck-support 20, or back.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the protection cage 40 and the deck-support 20 may be separable. The protection cage 40 may be placed onto the deck-support 20 and may be removed from the deck-support 20. The method may further comprise securing the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 together to form a sea-deck assembly. For example, they may be clamped together, or they may be held together such that the protection cage 40 is still able to rotate relative to the deck-support 20.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the method as may further comprise lifting the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 with lifting means 50 to an engagement position for the on-board cable-holding position or the onboarding position. The lifting means 50 may be any kind of means that may lift the protection cage 40 and decksupport 20, or only the protection cage 40 or only the deck-support 20. For example, the lifting means 50 may be a scissor lift, hydraulic jack lift, or an elevator, preferably with a flat top surface for receiving the deck-support 20. When the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 arrive at the onboarding position, or the on-board cableholding position, the lifting means 50 may elevate them to the proper position. For example, as best illustrated in figures 4 and 7, the protection cage 40 and decksupport 20 arrive at the on-board cable-holding position, the cable reel 6, and are pulled to the lifting means 50 by the winch 70 and the wire 72. The lifting means 50 may the elevate the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 to the proper position such that the cable reel 6 can connect to the protection cage and spool it on to the cable reel 6. The cable reel 6 may have engagement means 90 for engaging and connecting the protection cage 40, with the fitting 4, on to the reel 6.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the protection cage 40 may be automatically connected at the on-board cable-holding position to a cable reel 6 or a carousel. Automatically may mean without manual handling. This may be done by the protection cage 40 further comprising one or more catchment means 22. The catchment means 22 may be for connecting and aligning the protection cage 40 relative to the cable reel 6 or the carousel. The protection cage 40 may include two outwardly extending cable reel catchment means 22, for example on one or more of the rings 26, and / or a strut 8, and / or on each end-most outer ring 12, and / or on the rings 10. In this way, the protection cage 40 can be formally aligned with a cable reel 6, to ensure correct alignment and attachment between the two, in particular prior to reeling of the protection cage 40 onto the cable reel 6. The catchment means 22 may also, or alternatively, function as attachment means for attaching the protection cage 40 to the cable reel 6. The catchment means 22 may be detachably arranged on the protection cage 40. The catchment means 22 may be freely positioned on the circumference, for example on the ring 26, of the protection cage 40. This allows the protection cage 40 to be aligned with the cable reel 6. For example, when the protection cage 40 with the fitting 4 is positioned next to the cable reel 6, then the catchment means 22 may be attached in a position on the circumference of the protection cage 40 corresponding to means on the cable reel 6 for holding and picking up the protection cage 40. The catchment means 22 may be at least one protrusion or at least two protrusions on the protection cage 40. Each protrusion may be engaged and thereby aligning the protection cage 40. Each protrusion may, for example, be caught by a slot, or similar, connected to the cable reel 6 or the carousel. The protection cage 40 may hereby be aligned with the cable reel and may also be picked up by the cable reel, for example, for rotating with the cable reel. The catchment means 22 may be a towbar 22. The catchment means 22 may be the protection cage 40 itself as it gets into contact with the engagement means 90 of the cable reel 6. The automatic catchment and alignment may be achieved by the rotation of the cable reel 6. The protection cage 40 may include one or more connection means 38. The connection means 38 of the protection cage 40 are schematically illustrated in figure 4. The catchment means 22 may also function as a connection means 22. The connection means 38 may be one or more protrusions on the protection cage 40 that may be connected to a cable reel. The engagement means 90 may have connection means 38 for clamping and holding on to the protection cage 40 as the protection cage 40 is spooled onto the cable reel 6. The connection means 38 may be clamps or hooks and may be automatically engaged to clamp the protection cage 40 onto the engagement means 90 of the cable reel 6 as the cable reel 6 rotates and takes the protection cage 40 with it.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise reeling the protection cage 40 with the supported fitting 4 onto and / or off the cable reel 6 or carousel. The protection cage 40 may be spooled on to the cable reel 6 on one side, and the remaining cable may be spooled up on to another side of the cable reel 6. This may be taken from the schematic figures 4 and 7. The engagement means 90 may be on one side of the cable reel 6 and engage the protection cage 40. The protection cage 40 may rotate with the cable reel 6 and the cable may be guided over to another side of the cable reel 6 for further spooling of the cable. For clarification, in the exemplary embodiment of the reel in figures 4 and 7, one end side of the cable reel 6 has not been illustrated for the purpose of showing how the protection cage 40 may be attached to the cable reel 6.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the protection cage 40 may be configured to support the fitting 4 on the vessel deck during moving. This allows the cable end 2 to be moved and handled without damaging the fitting. The protection cage 40 may be installed at a factory, for example when making the cable and fitting, or may be installed at wet-parking, for example the protection cage 40 may be already present when in the onboarding position.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the method of moving a subsea cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 on a vessel deck 30 between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position may include using one or more guide quadrant 32. The cable end 2 may be guided along, or around, a guide quadrant 32. The protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 may be pulled by the wire 72 along, or around, the guide quadrant 32. The wire 72 may slide on the guide quadrant 32 and the deck-support 20 may slide on the guide quadrant 32. In this way the cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 may be moved along specific paths on a vessel deck or factory floor.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the cable reel 6, or the carousel, may comprise a connection point 92 for the wire 72. The wire 72 pulling the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20 may be connected to the connection point 92 on the cable reel 6. This supports the protection cage 40 and deck-support 20, as well as any pig tail 5, on the cable reel 6 when spooled.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise guiding a part of the cable end 2 overboard the vessel deck 30. The over-boarding of the cable may be done opposite to the onboarding position of the vessel. In this case the cable end 2 include, for example the first 150 meters of the cable, or any predetermined length of the first end of the cable that may be taken onboard a vessel to be handled. For example, the method may further comprise holding the protection cage 40 at the on-board cable-holding position, with the fitting 4 inside the protection cage 40; and guiding a part of the cable end 2 overboard the vessel deck 30. This may be in addition, or as an alternative, to reel the cable end on a cable reel 6 or on a carousel. The protection cage 40 may be held at the on-board cable-holding position by a winch with a winch wire connected to the cable or the protection cage 40 or the deck support 20. The part of the cable end 2 that is between the onboarding position and the on-board cable-holding position may be routed overboard the vessel deck 30 and back again, for example as a U-shaped loop into and out from the sea. For example, the cable end 2 may go from the sea on one side of the vessel via the onboarding position up onto the vessel deck 30, overboard on the other opposite side of the vessel deck 30, doing a U-turn in the sea, back up onto the vessel deck 30, and to the on-board cable-holding position. In this case there is no need to have a cable reel or a carousel. According to one embodiment, the protection cage 40 with the fitting 4 inside the protection cage 40 may be overboard the vessel deck 30. According to this embodiment, no U-turn is made in the sea back up on to the vessel deck 30.

[0045] According to another embodiment, that may be independent of, or combined with, any other embodiment disclosed herein, a method and system of moving a subsea cable end 2 and supported fitting 4 on a vessel deck 30 between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position, comprises at least: locating the subsea cable end 2 with a protection cage 40 on a track 34; and moving the protection cage 40 on the track around the vessel deck 30 to the on-board cableholding position on a track. This embodiment is best illustrated in figures 8 to 11.

[0046] The protection cage 2 for handling a fitting 4 on a subsea cable, the subsea cable extending along an axis, the protection cage having a frame, the frame being able to be opened and closed to surround the fitting, wherein the protection cage is configured to support the fitting therewithin, and is configured to allow rotation of the fitting and subsea cable around the axis. The protection cage 40 may be as illustrated and mentioned herein.

[0047] The protection cage 40 may travel between the onboarding position and the on-board cable-holding position on a track. The track may resemble a train track or a roller coaster track. The track may comprise two rails with an opening, groove, canal, for the subsea cable end 2 to fall into as the protection cage travels along the track. The groove may comprise rollers for the subsea cable. The groove may at least partly, or entirely, along its length be configured as a chute for the subsea cable.

[0048] The track may extend substantially, or partly, on the deck of the vessel, and / or from the onboarding position to the on-board cable-holding position, for example a reel or carousel. The protection cage 40 may be configured to run directly on the track, or may have an intermediate support between the protection cage 40 and the track. The protection cage 40 may be pulled by a wire. The wire may be connected to the protection cage or to the fitting on the subsea cable.

[0049] The method and system may be used without the protection cage 40. For example, a part of the subsea cable and / or subsea cable end and / or fitting may be attached to a runner, a wagon, a cart, that can travel on the track and support the subsea cable and / or subsea cable end and / or fitting.

[0050] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed method. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of moving a subsea cable end (2) and supported fitting (4) on a vessel deck (30) between an onboarding position and an on-board cable-holding position, comprising at least: locating the subsea cable end (2) with a protection cage (40) on a decksupport (20); and moving the protection cage (40) and deck-support (20) around the vessel deck (30) to the on-board cable-holding position.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the on-board cable-holding position is at a cable reel (6) or a carousel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the protection cage (40) comprises one or more supports (14) configured to secure the fitting (4) within the protection cage (40); and wherein the protection cage (40) is configured to allow rotation of the cable end (2) and fitting (4) within the protection cage (40) relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable, or configured to rotate with the cable end (2) and fitting (4) relative to the vessel deck; and the method further comprises allowing such rotation of the cable end (2) and fitting (4).

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the protection cage (40) is elongate and at least partly circular in cross-section along a longitudinal axis.

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deck support (20) is a sleigh.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the deck support (20) comprises two or more flat deck-rails (24).

7. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deck support (20) is configured to allow rotation of the fitting (4) relative to the deck support.

8. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fitting (4) is a bend-stiffener or the cable is a power cable or both.

9. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising providing the subsea cable end (2) and supported fitting (4) at the onboarding position by the protection cage (40) being configured to be supported by, or positioned on, a cable system (60).

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cable system (60) is configured to transfer the cable end (2) and the supported fitting (4) between a vessel deck (6) and a subsea location, and the method comprises attaching or removing the protection cage (40) to or from, respectively, the supported fitting (4).

11. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising moving the protection cage (40) with the supported fitting (4) between the onboarding position and the deck-support (20), or moving the protection cage (40) with the supported fitting (4) between the on-board cable-holding position and the deck-support (20).

12. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection cage (40) and the deck-support (20) are separable, and the method further comprising securing the protection cage (40) and deck-support (20) together to form a sea-deck assembly.

13. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprises lifting the protection cage (40) and deck-support (20) with lifting means (50) to an engagement position for the on-board cable-holding position or the onboarding position.

14. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection cage (40) is automatically connected at the on-board cable-holding position to a cable reel (6) or a carousel, by the protection cage (40) further comprising one or more catchment means (22).

15. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising reeling the protection cage (40) with the supported fitting (4) onto and / or off a cable reel (6) or carousel.

16. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising guiding a part of the cable end (2) overboard the vessel deck (30).

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