In the shipbuilding industry, high-standard and high-efficiency construction requirements and strict safety regulations are driving technological innovation. Faced with intensified market competition and customers’ high requirements for cost-effectiveness and delivery cycle, the ship cable system, as the “neural network” of the hull, carries the transmission of power, signals and control instructions, and its management efficiency directly affects the overall efficiency of shipbuilding. However, the traditional cable penetration sealing solution has long restricted the efficiency of cable management due to its high degree of customization, complex installation, and difficult maintenance, becoming the core pain point of the industry.

The core pain points of ship cable management

Ship cable management faces three core challenges: compact space, complex working conditions, and strict standards. Due to the complex hull structure, cable wiring needs to pass through multiple compartments such as bulkheads and decks, and traditional sealing solutions rely on customized design, which not only has a long installation cycle and high labor costs, but also the sealing effect is easily affected by human operation. In addition, the aging, wear or corrosion of sealing materials under complex working conditions make later maintenance difficult and the replacement cost high, and may also cause safety hazards, threatening the safety and operating life of the ship.

TST seal modular solution: Reconstructing cable management
Targeting the pain points of the industry, the TST seal modular cable and pipe penetration sealing system has achieved a disruptive breakthrough with “efficiency, safety and flexibility” as the core: its outstanding advantages are reflected in three aspects:

1 Safety upgrade/reducing risks and ensuring the working environment

The fire resistance level of the TST seal fireproof plugging module reaches A-0 and A-60 standards, meets the fire protection requirements of EN45545-2 (HL3) and GB23864 (2h/3h), and can effectively prevent the spread of fire even in extreme environments. For example, when encountering an open flame, the TST seal sealing material can form a stable insulation layer at high temperature to prevent the flame from penetrating the bulkhead, and buy precious time for personnel evacuation and fire extinguishing.

In addition, the explosion-proof performance meets the IEC 60079 Ex EПC Gb and ExEⅡCGc levels. Through specially designed sealing structures and materials, it effectively isolates explosive gases and provides reliable protection for hazardous areas (such as cargo holds of liquefied natural gas ships and chemical ships). The system also has excellent anti-corrosion ability, can resist erosion by seawater, acid and alkali and other media, and extend the service life of the ship.

2 Efficiency innovation/ shorten the cycle and optimize the cost structure

The TST seal system adopts modular installation, which can be completed with simple assembly, saving up to 80% of working hours. When applied in the hydraulic pipe area, its installation method saves downtime and material loss, reducing maintenance costs. For high cable density environments, the system supports rapid penetration and modular management, reduces manual intervention, and greatly shortens the project delivery cycle.

3 Space optimization/flexible response to complex environmental needs

The TST seal system has excellent spatial adaptability, and its watertightness and airtightness can meet different levels of pressure sealing from 0.3 MPa to 0.5 MPa, effectively preventing gas and liquid penetration. In key areas such as the bridge deck and engine room, the system can not only easily cope with the needs of cable expansion, but also ensure the stable operation of electronic equipment through electromagnetic shielding modules (EMC performance 42~63dB), providing a reliable foundation for the introduction of new technologies and green fuel systems.

Technical details and material innovation

The technological breakthrough of the TST seal system is inseparable from the deep integration of material science and engineering design. Its core material is made of high-strength composite materials, which are resistant to high temperature, anti-aging, low smoke and non-toxic. It complies with the EU RoHS and IEC61249-2-21 environmental protection standards, ensuring stable sealing performance under extreme pressure.

In terms of structural design, the system adopts a modular combination method to achieve rapid adaptation of cables and pipes of different sizes through standardized interfaces. For example, its unique “plug and play” module dynamic diameter change technology covers Φ15~500mm cables/pipes, greatly reducing the pressure on spare parts inventory. In addition, the expansion interface reserved by the system allows shipowners to quickly add cables or pipes during later upgrades, avoiding repeated hole opening operations and improving the efficiency of ship life cycle management.

Key area application: precise empowerment of ship construction

01 Bridge deck/waterproof shielding double insurance

In the bridge area with limited space and dense cables, the TST seal penetration sealing system achieves rapid installation and efficient sealing to resist EMI/EMP, fire, gas and water damage. Its electromagnetic shielding module effectively blocks external electromagnetic interference through the synergy of special metal materials and sealing structures, ensuring the stable operation of key equipment such as navigation radar and communication systems. At the same time, the system’s watertight performance can resist the impact of waves and ensure navigation safety in extreme weather.

02 Hydraulic pipe area / Anti-leakage, cost reduction

For complex hydraulic system scenarios such as tankers and container ships, the TST seal fireproof plugging solution eliminates the risk of leakage. Through flexible sealing design, it adapts to the thermal expansion and contraction of pipelines to avoid leakage hazards caused by stress concentration. In actual applications, after a large tanker project adopted this system, the maintenance cost of the hydraulic system was reduced by 40% and the failure rate was reduced by 60%.

03 Engine room / Safe construction, speed increase and efficiency

The TST seal cable penetration sealing system efficiently manages high cable density environments to ensure the normal operation of engine control room equipment. For example, on liquefied gas ships using dual-fuel engines, its penetration sealing system integrates multiple functions such as fire protection, explosion protection, and electromagnetic shielding to provide a reliable protective barrier for complex power systems, helping shipyards build high-standard ships.

Technical certification and global application cases

The TST seal penetration sealing system not only has excellent performance parameters (such as 1.8MPa impact and explosion resistance, IP68 protection level), but also has passed a number of international authoritative certifications, including RS (Russian Classification Society), CCS (China Classification Society), etc., and its fire prevention, explosion prevention, and marine environment adaptability are fully up to standard. The product is non-toxic and halogen-free, complies with the EU RoHS and IEC61249-2-21 standards, takes into account environmental protection and safety, and provides lasting protection for harsh scenarios such as offshore wind power.

At present, the TST seal penetration sealing system has been stably serving multiple industry benchmark projects. For example, in the Zhangpu Liuao Phase II Offshore Substation Project, the system was successfully applied to submarine cable penetration, ensuring stable power supply to offshore wind farms; in the Three Gorges Yangjiang Shaba Offshore Substation, its explosion-proof sealing design provides a safety barrier for offshore operating platforms; in the Datang Nan’ao Offshore Substation, modular installation shortened the construction period by 30%, which was highly recognized by the owner. In addition, the system has also performed well in international projects such as a large Norwegian cruise ship and a Singapore LNG carrier, verifying its global applicability.

In the shipbuilding industry, safety and efficiency have always been the core goals pursued by shipyards. TST seal penetration sealing technology breaks through the limitations of traditional sealing with innovation, and sets a new benchmark for the shipbuilding industry through safety performance improvement, efficiency optimization and space management innovation. Under the trend of global competition and green shipping, this technology will continue to help shipyards achieve a win-win situation in cost and quality, and promote shipbuilding to higher standards. In the future, with the improvement of more classification society certifications and the expansion of global projects, the TST seal penetration sealing system is expected to become a standard in the field of shipbuilding, leading the industry’s technological changes and injecting new momentum into global shipping safety and sustainable development.