One or more spacers for installing an optical cable are disposed in a trench that extends along an axis. The optical cable includes one or more optical sensors. Each spacer includes a base configured to rest in a bottom of the trench. A first arm extends from the base. The first arm is adjacent to a first wall of the trench. An opposing second arm extends from the base. The second arm is adjacent to an opposing second wall of the trench. The optical cable is configured to extend along the axis.

Multi-fiber, fiber optic cable assemblies may be configured so that the terminal ends of the cables have pre-assembled back-post assemblies that include pre-assembled ferrules, such as MPO ferrules that meet the requisite tolerances needed for fiber optic transmissions. To protect the pre-assembled components from damage prior to and during installation, pre-assembled components may be enclosed within a protective housing. The housing with pre-assembled components may be of a size smaller than fully assembled connectors so as to be sized to fit through a conduit. The remaining connector housing components for the multi-fiber connectors may be provided separately and may be configured to be attached to the back-post assembly after installation of the cable.

Multi-fiber, fiber optic cable assemblies may be configured so that the terminal ends of the cables have pre-assembled back-post assemblies that include pre-assembled ferrules, such as MPO ferrules that meet the requisite tolerances needed for fiber optic transmissions. To protect the pre-assembled components from damage prior to and during installation, pre-assembled components may be enclosed within a protective housing. The housing with pre-assembled components may be of a size smaller than fully assembled connectors so as to be sized to fit through a conduit. The remaining connector housing components for the multi-fiber connectors may be provided separately and may be configured to be attached to the back-post assembly after installation of the cable.

Apparatus and methods for remotely laying cable. A crawler comprises a propulsion means for moving the crawler along a surface. A controller stores the route followed by the crawler. As the crawler moves along the surface a cable is fed onto the surface. A fastener is then used to affix the cable to the surface.

Apparatus and methods for remotely laying cable. A crawler comprises a propulsion means for moving the crawler along a surface. A controller stores the route followed by the crawler. As the crawler moves along the surface a cable is fed onto the surface. A fastener is then used to affix the cable to the surface.

A optical cable member includes an optical cable, a fixing member, a first housing tube, and a second housing tube. The optical cable includes an optical fiber and a tensile strength member. In the optical cable, a cable main body housing the optical fiber and the tensile strength member, and a cable exposure portion in which the optical fiber and the tensile strength member are exposed to an outside are provided. The fixing member fixes the tensile strength member. The first housing tube is disposed between the fixing member and the cable main body, houses the tensile strength member therein, and allows the optical fiber to extend therein. The second housing tube is disposed on a side opposite to the first housing tube of the fixing member, and houses the optical fiber of the cable exposure portion therein. The second housing tube is a bendable member.

A optical cable member includes an optical cable, a fixing member, a first housing tube, and a second housing tube. The optical cable includes an optical fiber and a tensile strength member. In the optical cable, a cable main body housing the optical fiber and the tensile strength member, and a cable exposure portion in which the optical fiber and the tensile strength member are exposed to an outside are provided. The fixing member fixes the tensile strength member. The first housing tube is disposed between the fixing member and the cable main body, houses the tensile strength member therein, and allows the optical fiber to extend therein. The second housing tube is disposed on a side opposite to the first housing tube of the fixing member, and houses the optical fiber of the cable exposure portion therein. The second housing tube is a bendable member.

A method for the continuous production of a thin-walled, perforated metal hollow profile with one or more fibre waveguides mounted therein. The method includes supplying of a flat metal strip at a first supply rate to a deforming device, which continuously deforms the metal strip into a metal hollow profile with a slot running in a longitudinal direction. Two opposite edges of the metal strip deformed into the metal hollow profile that lie flush against one another in a contact region extending in the longitudinal direction of the metal hollow profile are continuously welded to one another, drawn off from the welding region and perforated. The method further includes positioning a protective tube reaching into the welded metal hollow profile on the draw-off side to beyond the perforation point and supplying one or more fibre waveguides from one or more fibre unwinders via the protective tube, such that the fibre waveguide or waveguides are introduced into the perforated metal hollow profile from the guide or protective tube downstream of the perforation point in the drawing-off direction. The perforated metal hollow profile with the fibre waveguide or fibre waveguides mounted therein is received in a receiving unit.

A method for the continuous production of a thin-walled, perforated metal hollow profile with one or more fibre waveguides mounted therein. The method includes supplying of a flat metal strip at a first supply rate to a deforming device, which continuously deforms the metal strip into a metal hollow profile with a slot running in a longitudinal direction. Two opposite edges of the metal strip deformed into the metal hollow profile that lie flush against one another in a contact region extending in the longitudinal direction of the metal hollow profile are continuously welded to one another, drawn off from the welding region and perforated. The method further includes positioning a protective tube reaching into the welded metal hollow profile on the draw-off side to beyond the perforation point and supplying one or more fibre waveguides from one or more fibre unwinders via the protective tube, such that the fibre waveguide or waveguides are introduced into the perforated metal hollow profile from the guide or protective tube downstream of the perforation point in the drawing-off direction. The perforated metal hollow profile with the fibre waveguide or fibre waveguides mounted therein is received in a receiving unit.

An improved deepwater optical fiber cable with abrasion protection and techniques for manufacturing the same are provided. For example, the abrasion protected deepwater cable may be a modification or enhancement of an existing special application (SPA) optical fiber cable. One or more additional layers of metallic tape and jackets may be added to the outermost layer of the SPA cable. The tape and jacket layers may have different thicknesses and may be made from different materials to optimize protection against man-made objects or otherwise naturally occurring materials in deep water environments, such as fish aggregation devices (FADs).