What You Need to Know About Low Smoke Shipboard Cables

Shipboard cable installations prove to be challenging owning to the fact that there are many factors that come to play when choosing the cables. The marine vessels and ship operators are seeking for solutions to ensure safety, reduce down times, and ensure there are no losses. ‘Shipboard cables’ is a term that refers to a wide spectrum of wire choices. There are different shipboard cables whether for communication, lighting, power, control, instrument, electronics, or specific applications. Shipboard cables may be used by recreational boaters, US Navy, passenger ship operators, and other marine applications. It is important to understand that, no matter the user or the application of shipboard cables, they need to be effective, safe, and reliable in any given marine situation. There are standards that help end users and manufacturers to ensure these cables meet safety requirement and the desired product quality for successful applications in ship vessels. Some of the low smoke shipboard cables are:

MIL-DTL-24643 or M24643 
This group of shipboard cables consists of low smoke, zero halogen cables. The cables produce little smoke and do not release toxic byproducts when they encounter fire or flame. It is for this reason that these cables are preferred for use in heavily manned ships. Though they may be lightweight cables, it’s not like you may find with the M24640 cables. An example is the RSCC Aerodefense MIL-DTL-24643/2 Low Smoke Flexing Service Shipboard Cables, which are used aboard shipboards. These cables are used in wiring electronic, lighting system, power circuits, and control systems.

MIL-DTL-24643 or M24643 
These products focus mainly on lightweight, low smoke cables. They are designed with safety aspect in mind and that is why they are considred a safer option compared to the standard cables since they release minimal smoke in the event of fire occurring onboard the vessel. Since they are lightweight, they also tend to reduce the weight of the ship thereby lowering the unnecessary drag in the water, which may happen if the ship feels too heavy.

M17 Coaxial cables 
With M17 Coaxial cables, they are designed to emit high radio frequencies. These cables are used in shipboards, especially data, radio, and radar communications. The cables come with low toxicity, low smoke constructions. This means that they are also safe for use where fire safety is desired. The M17 coaxial cables have greater abrasion resistance and flexibility.

When choosing a shipboard cable, make sure that it can hold up the harsh environments and conditions. It should also be able to endure in times of emergencies such as during a fire outbreak in a ship vessel.  The cable you choose should be able to offer excellent fire performance meaning that if there happens to be a fire on the ship, the cables can continue to relay data, transmit information, or transfer energy to the right locations and systems. The cables should release minimal toxins or no toxins if they come in contact with fire. Halogen free cables that are low smoke are preferred for these shipboard applications.