Cables for ships and offshore platforms
Cables for ships, or marine cables, are the cables installed on board ships and offshore platforms for power supply, the order, measurement and communication.
ZMS Cable manufactures power cables, order, instrumentation and communication, conform to IEC series 60092 and the standards applicable to each type, in halogen-free versions, flame retardant or fire resistant, as well as tailor-made constructions according to your specifications.
These cables are not laid on the seabed : for submarine connections, check out our submarine cables.
Our ranges of ship cables
Power cables for ships
Power cables supply and distribute energy on board : engines, pumps, lighting, electrical panels and auxiliary equipment. Our cables 0,6/1 kV are manufactured according to IEC 60092-353, with class tinned copper conductor 2, isolation EPR, Tinned copper braid and halogen-free SHF2 outer sheath.
Namely : IEC 60092-352 retain 45 °C as reference ambient temperature for admissible currents ; if the actual temperature differs, for example in the engine room, a correction factor applies. Number of drivers, sections, braided, sheath armor and color : all configurations are possible on request.
Reference example : 0,6/1 kV 3 × 2,5 mm² Tinned Cu / EPR / LSF / TCWB / SHF2.
Power cables 0,6/1 kV : Tinned Cu / EPR / LSF / TCWB / SHF2
| Designation | Section (mm²) | Max resistance. has 20 °C (Ω/km) | conductor Ø (mm) | external Ø of ref. (mm) | Masse approx. (kg/km) |
| 3 × 1,5 | 1,5 | 12,2 | 1,56 | 14,7 | 317,0 |
| 3 × 2,5 | 2,5 | 7,56 | 2,01 | 15,7 | 374,9 |
| 4 × 2,5 | 2,5 | 7,56 | 2,01 | 16,7 | 433,6 |
| 4 × 4 | 4 | 4,70 | 2,55 | 18,0 | 532,4 |
| Tension nominale | Driver | Isolation | Internal sheath | Braided |
| 0,6/1 kV | Tinned copper, class 2 | EPR, nominal thickness 1,0 mm (mini 0,80 mm) | LSF, 1,0 mm | Tinned copper wires Ø 0,2 mm, blanket 90 % |
| Outer sheath | Max temperature. of the driver | Max temperature. en court-circuit | Test voltage | Min curvature radius. |
| SHF2, noire, 1,8 mm nominal (mini 1,43 mm) | 90 °C | 250 °C | 3,5 kV / 5 min | 15 × D |
Cables for offshore platforms
On offshore platforms, cables must resist oils, to drilling mud and cleaning products, while meeting strict fire safety requirements, low smoke emission and absence of halogens. The specification NEK TS 606, based on the series IEC 60092, defines the requirements applicable to these cables. Nos cables for offshore platforms can be manufactured according to NEK TS requirements 606, with the tests provided for by your specifications.
They combine tinned copper, isolation EPR, braid of tinned copper wire and outer sheath SHF2 halogen-free. A version resistant to drilling mud (SHF Mud) and a version fire resistant, with glass mica tape and IEC tests 60331, are achievable according to specifications.
NEK designations are read letter by letter : R corresponds to EPR insulation, B to insulation with fire-resistant tape, F to the internal sheath, O to the tinned copper braid and U to the SHF2 outer sheath. Sludge resistance is a distinct property, verified by tests on the sheath : it cannot be deduced from the designation.
ZMS expert council : choose Type B for circuits that must remain in service during a fire, for example emergency lighting, emergency stop and alarms, fire resistance being verified by the IEC test 60331-1 or -2 depending on the cable diameter. A type R is sufficient for other circuits. The tinned copper braid provides the screen and additional mechanical protection, tinning improving the corrosion resistance of the wires ; versions without braid are suitable for protected routes.
Section, number of drivers, sheath colors and testing requirements : according to specifications, on demand.
| Type | Fire resistant tape | Internal sheath and braid |
| RFU | non | oui |
| BFOU | oui | oui |
| RU | non | non |
| THIS | oui | non |
Ship control and instrumentation cables
Control and instrumentation cables transmit control and measurement signals on board ships and offshore platforms : alarms, indicator lights, sensors, automates, monitoring systems. According to IEC 60092-376, their rated voltage is 150/250 V (300 V), which is also suitable for low voltage signals such as 24 In CC.
ZMS Cable manufactures tinned copper marine control cables and instrumentation cables, with halogen-free insulation and sheaths, in multiconductor or multipair version, with or without screen.
| Screen type | Utility |
| Collective screen | Protects the entire cable against external disturbances |
| Individual screen per pair | Limits crosstalk between pairs, useful for sensitive signals |
Configuration example : 150/250 V – 2 × 2 × 0,75 mm² – Tinned Cu / EPR / collective screen / SHF2 (indicative, according to project).
Conductor identification (numbering or color coding), number of pairs, section, screen type and sheath color : configurations on request.
Fire resistant cables for ships
Fire-resistant cables maintain power to essential circuits during a fire : emergency lighting, pumps and other safety equipment. A glass mica tape placed on the conductor maintains insulation between conductors when the outer layers are destroyed by fire (tests according to IEC 60331).
Our fire-resistant cables for ships combine tinned copper, isolation EPR, tinned copper braid and halogen-free sheaths, with a drilling mud resistant version for offshore platforms.
ZMS expert council : don't confuse these three performances. A fire resistant cable (IEC 60331) continues to power the circuit during the fire, what matters for emergency lighting, fire pumps and alarms. Flame retardant cable (IEC 60332-3) only limits the propagation of the flame along the cable, without guaranteeing the operation of the circuit. A low-smoke, halogen-free cable (IEC 60754, IEC 61034) reduces corrosive gases and smoke, what is valuable in closed rooms and emergency exits, but it is not fire resistant.
The same cable can combine all three : specify each requirement separately in your specifications.
| Designation | Section (mm²) | Max resistance. has 20 °C (Ω/km) | external Ø of ref. (mm) | Masse approx. (kg/km) | Courant admissible (A) |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 1,5 | 1,5 | 12,2 | 16,5 | 420 | 20 |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 2,5 | 2,5 | 7,56 | 17,5 | 445,6 | 26 |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 4 | 4 | 4,70 | 18,5 | 500 | 34 |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 6 | 6 | 3,11 | 19,5 | 570 | 44 |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 10 | 10 | 1,84 | 21,5 | 710 | 61 |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 16 | 16 | 1,16 | 24,0 | 900 | 82 |
| Other configurations (3C, 4C…) and sections | — | — | — | — | On demand |
| Designation | Driver | Fire barrier | Isolation | Internal sheath | Braided |
| 0,6/1 kV 2C+E × 2,5 mm² | Tinned copper, class 2, Ø 2,01 mm | Glass mica tape (MGT), 2 layers of 0,14 mm | EPR | LSZH | Tinned copper (TCWB) |
| Outer sheath | Max resistance. has 20 °C | Reference external Ø | Masse approx. | Test voltage | |
| SHF Mud, resistant to drilling mud | 7,56 Ω/km | 17,5 mm | 445,6 kg/km | 3,5 kV / 5 min |
Communication and data cables
THE communication and data cables connect navigation equipment, telecommunications, alarm and automation on board ships and plateformes offshore. Their construction depends on the transmitted signal : twisted pairs for analog and digital signals, coaxial cables for radio frequency, optical fiber for high-speed connections.
ZMS Cable manufactures marine communications cables and tinned copper data cables, with collective or individual screen, isolation et gaines halogen-free, according to your specifications.
Configuration example : 150/250 V – 4 × 2 × 0,5 mm² – Tinned Cu / individual screen in pairs and collective screen / SHF2 (indicative, according to project).
ZMS expert council : for data cables, electrical characteristics (impedance, mutual capacity, mitigation) depend on protocol more than on a single naval standard. The IEC TR guide 60092-370 assists in the selection of telecommunications and data transmission cables on board ships and offshore units. In your request, specify the protocol or bus type, the number of pairs, the type of screen and the fire requirement : we offer you the suitable construction.
| Signal transmis | Usual construction |
| Analog sensors and signals | Twisted pairs, collective or individual screen |
| Fieldbus and digital data | Shielded twisted pairs, impedance matched to the bus |
| Ethernet network | Shielded twisted pairs according to the required category |
| Antennas and radio frequency | coaxial cable |
| High-speed links | Fiber optics, on demand |
Which cable for which area of the ship ?
| Ship area | Constraints | Technical requirements for the cable | Suitable cable types |
| Engine room | Heat, oils, vibrations | Insulation suitable for a service temperature of 90 °C ; oil resistant sheath adapted to the environment ; suitable fixation for vibrations. If the ambient temperature exceeds the reference value, apply the correction factors to the admissible current. | Power cables · Control and instrumentation |
| Outer deck | Salt spray, water splashes, UV, temperature differences, shocks | Tinned copper conductors and braid for better corrosion resistance ; halogen-free sheath with UV resistance suitable for exterior use ; braid or weave depending on the mechanical protection required. | Power cables · Control and instrumentation · Communication and data |
| Housing and emergency exits | Closed spaces, evacuation, smoke in case of fire | Low Smoke Halogen Free Cables (IEC 60754, IEC 61034) and flame retardants (IEC 60332-3), in power as well as in control and communication. For safety circuits that must remain in service during the fire : fire resistant cables. | Halogen-free cables Fire-resistant cables |
| Damp premises (pumps, tunnels, which ones) | Condensation, permanent humidity, water splashes | Tinned copper conductors ; sheath suitable for humidity and water splashes ; cable glands with suitable degree of protection ; longitudinal water blocking on request. On tankers, the cargo pump room may be a dangerous area : apply specific requirements to its classification. | Power cables · Control and instrumentation |
| Battery rooms | Electrolyte vapors, hydrogen, strong direct currents | Cable suitable for direct voltage, to current and short circuit current of the circuit ; chemical resistant sheath compatible with battery type ; cables and cable glands chosen according to zone classification and ventilation. An offshore, NEK TS 606 includes a chapter dedicated to battery circuits and primary DC networks. | Power cables for battery circuits |
| Dangerous areas (oil tankers, platforms) | Explosive atmospheres, fire risk, interventions | The cable alone is not explosion-proof equipment : its choice and installation follow the classification of the zone and Ex rules, with cable glands, suitable connections and earthing. The braid or armor provides mechanical protection, without replacing these measures. For control and instrumentation cables, IEC 60092-376 has specific requirements for installations in explosive atmospheres. | Cables for offshore platforms · Control and instrumentation, according to the project |
| Gateway and control room | Sensitive signals, electromagnetic disturbances | Twisted pairs with collective or individual screen depending on the sensitivity of the signals and the level of disturbances ; halogen-free ducts in inhabited spaces. | Control and instrumentation · Communication and data |
| Essential tours (emergency lighting, fire pumps, alarms) | Must remain in service during fire | Fire resistant cables, usually with mica tape ; fire resistance verified by the applicable IEC series test 60331 : -1 for cables with an external diameter greater than 20 mm, -2 until 20 mm. Control and alarm circuits possible on request. | Fire resistant cables |
Project completed : marine cables delivered to Vietnam
A Vietnamese customer entrusted us with the supply of marine cables 0,6/1 kV for his project, manufactured according to its specifications.
- Product : marine cables 0,6/1 kV, tinned copper, isolation EPR, tinned copper braid
- References :
3 × 1,5 mm² : 610 m
3 × 2,5 mm² : 610 m
4 × 2,5 mm² : 610 m
4 × 4 mm² : 580 m
2C+E × 2,5 mm² : 200 m, mica ribbon version - Gaines : SHF2 halogen-free ; SHF Mud for version 2C+E
- Total quantity : 2 610 m
- Factory checks : drivers, insulation and sheath thicknesses, appearance and marking, conductor resistance, voltage holding 3,5 kV pendant 5 min, all compliant
- Documents provided : factory test report by reference, certificate of quality and quantity, original certificate, warranty certificate
- Delivery : by sea, de Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh-Ville, september 2026
Custom ship cables
- Constructions : number of drivers, sections, multiconductors or pairs, with or without braid
- Screens : collective screen or individual screen in pairs
- Materials : isolation EPR, halogen-free SHF2 sheath or SHF Mud, tinned copper conductors
- Fire holder : mica ribbon fire resistant version, IEC tests 60331 according to the project
- Spotting : insulation and sheath colors, conductor numbering, cable marking
- Lengths and packaging : lengths adapted to each reference, packaging according to your site
- The applicable standard or specification (IEC 60092, NEK TS 606…)
- The tension, the number of conductors and the section
- The installation area (engine room, pont, plateforme offshore…)
- Required performance (halogen-free, fire resistance, oils, sludge)
- Quantity and destination port
Frequently asked questions about ship cables
What is the difference between a ship cable (marine cable) and a submarine cable ?
A ship cable, or marine cable, is installed on board a ship or offshore platform for power, the order, measurement and communication. It follows the IEC series 60092, of which the part 350 excludes submarine cables. A submarine cable is laid on or under the seabed, for energy or telecommunications connections : it's another product, with other standards and another pose. See our submarine cables.
What does IEC mean 60092 ?
IEC 60092 is the series of standards “Electrical installations on board ships”. For cables, the most used parts are : -350 (general construction and test methods), -353 (power cables 1 kV etc 3 kV), -360 (insulation and sheath materials), -376 (control and instrumentation cables 150/250 V) et -352 (cable selection and installation).
Collective screen or individual screens : how to choose ?
The choice depends on the nature of the signals and the level of protection required. For multipair circuits carrying sensitive signals, an individual screen per pair, possibly supplemented by a collective screen, improves insulation between circuits. The connection of the screens must follow the electrical architecture of the ship or platform.
Can these cables be used in repeated flexion? ?
In general no : our ship cables are designed for fixed installations. IEC 60092-350 considers as fixed installations subject to vibrations and movements of the ship, but not those that require frequent or continuous bending. For repeated movements, you need a suitable flexible cable : tell us the radius of curvature and the number of cycles.
What documents do you provide with the cables ?
According to the project : a factory test report by reference, a certificate of quality and quantity, a certificate of origin and a guarantee certificate. Type tests (feu, halogens, fumes, oils, sludge) and additional certificates are provided on request, according to your specifications.
Our professional services
By choosing high quality ship cables, you offer your teams and facilities a higher level of security — and this is precisely what ZMS services aim to guarantee.
ZMS designs and produces tailor-made cables according to your technical specifications, with customization of the marking, Colors and packaging. Our products can be adapted to meet international standards (GB, IEC, BS, NFC, ASTM, FROM, etc.) and the specific requirements of each project.
All cables are tested before shipment and comply with CE certifications, IEC and ISO. Detailed test reports can be provided upon request to ensure the reliability and safety of your installations.
ZMS cables are carefully packaged on wooden spools, corrugated cardboard boxes or metal drums. Ends are tightly sealed with plastic wrap or BOPP to prevent moisture. Exterior marking can be personalized with waterproof materials.
We offer flexible and fast logistics solutions to more than 130 pays :
- Maritime : 20ft or 40ft containers depending on volume.
- Land : Local or regional delivery.
- Air : Option available for rush orders.
We also provide all necessary export documents : commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and customs documents.
Our engineers and advisors support you in choosing the cables best suited to your installations. We offer comprehensive consulting services, including technical assistance and project management, to ensure every step of your order is covered professionally.
ZMS offers two options for your electrical projects :
- Option A (led by ZMS) : Sending engineers and a supervision team to site to provide technical advice, installers and final tests. Travel expenses, accommodation, per diem and translation are to be expected.
- Option B (local subcontracting) : Collaboration with qualified local companies for installation, with technical training, On-site supervision and compliance verification provided by ZMS.
