Niall Holden, managing director, VDC Trading, said: "In the world of super yachts, on-board systems have entered the domain of HD television and audiophile sound systems, so pro-audio and broadcast levels of installation have now become the entry level. This means there has never been a greater need and demand for a range of A/V cables that are capable of handling the legal and technical requirements of these systems without compromising the infrastructure and quality of the ship itself."
"Until now, A/V cabling requirements have been largely ignored, failing to keep up with technological developments and failing to comply with international insurance standards related to burn rates and toxic emissions - the number one killer in marine fires. We have worked closely with Van Damme to specify and develop an entirely new category of marine cabling that addresses these issues whilst delivering unrivalled performance."
Key features of the range include:
Impressive sound quality - Van Damme Marine cable uses ultra pure oxygen free copper, advanced foamed and gas injected dielectrics and the latest plastics technologies to ensure the best possible signal transmissions. For instance Van Damme Marine SeaSat Video cables meet the electrical requirements of the UK Confederation of Aerial Industries for type 100 satellite coaxial cable.
Simplified installation: The cable is very tough, but copes easily with tight bend radii and is easy to handle, install and terminate, says the company. The composite format means that all connectivity requirements are incorporated in a single, perfectly round, easy to handle cable profile instead of an awkward bundle of individual cables.
Safety: The cable is designed to exacting marine safety standards originally specified for electrical cables. They use Low Smoke Zero Halogen cable jackets using the thermoplastic polymer SHF1 - which is compliant with IEC 60092 Electrical Installations in ships pt. 359. This means that in the case of fire, the cable burns at the prescribed rate and produces minimal toxic fumes, the company says. The cable is fully tested and compliant with many IEC standards.
Reliability: The cable and connectors are designed to deal with the demanding marine environment. For instance, where non-locking HDMI connectors are normally used, Van Damme Marine specifies locking versions, to ensure that cable connections are not affected by rough seas.
Fibre future proofing: Given the huge expense of cabling large yachts and cruise liners, the cable is designed to support emerging needs, for instance including OM3 fibre elements to support 10G Ethernet, data and control solutions. This is also a huge advantage for anyone buying a yacht and undertaking a full refit. The cables will not need to be renewed, which removes significant time and cost from the refit process.
The Van Damme Marine Range, supplied exclusively by VDC Trading Ltd, has been successfully trialled in a range of large scale installations and is specified by leading shipyards, including Thompson's large Mediterranean cruise liners 'Destiny' and 'Celebration', and the Disney Cruise ships as well as on many yachts.
(Claire Beeson)
