


ETA's tracked vehicles include trenchers and vehicles suitable for remote intervention tasks. Multiple tooling options are available and machines can be designed for versatility or tailored to specific operations.
Generally our track designs utilise standard components marinised for subsea duty. ETA have conducted research into track design, especially to quantify the soft soil performance of different systems, this has allowed us to optimise our use of these components. In addition a range of track plate designs can be offered.
The tracked vehicles are supplied with an easy to use control system. Depending upon the control functions required this can be an extension of the jetting sled control system or a more advanced PC based system.
A number of different burial tools can be fitted to the trenchers. These include jetters, vibro-ploughs, chain cutters and rock wheel cutters.
To discuss the suitability of an ETA tracked machine to your project please call us on:
Tracked Vehicles for Power and Telecoms Fields
Otter - Power & Telecoms
Otter provides an effective reliable solution for the burial of a range of cable types in water depths up to 30 m. The vehicle is based around a self-propelled track package with a universal linkage for deploying a range of burial tools.
Outline Specification;
Length Overall | 9.0m |
Width | 4.2m |
Height | 2.6m |
Weight in Air | 8.2t |
Track Width | 1.1m |
Burial Tools;
Max Diameter | 180mm |
Product MBR | 1.5m |
Jetting Tools:
Trench Depth | 2.2m |
Soil Type | Sands and clays up to 25kPa |
Chain Cutter:
Trench Depth | 2.2m |
Soil Type | Sands and clays up to soft rock |
Wheel Cutter:
Trench Depth | 0.8m |
Soil Type | Sands, clays and rock |
- 1100mm nylon track shoes
- Sealed and lubricated track chains
- Carrier rollers, lower rollers and front idlers fitted with special seals and lubricant filled
- Standard track drive reduction gear fitted with fixed displacement hydraulic motor
Control system housed in 3 x rugged transit cases and includes:
- PC for graphical display of vehicle status
- 2 x Monochrome monitors
- Camera and light PSU’s
- Deployment ram controls
- Slew ram controls
- Mechanical cutter controls
- Track drive controls
- RS 232 survey data link
- 1 x 150 m Electrical umbilical, extruded polyurethane jacket approx. 38 mm OD
- Burial depth
- Pitch
- Roll
- Heading
- Vertical and horizontal cable angle at bellmouth
- Port and STBD track speed
- Speed and distance over ground (5th Wheel)
- Mechanical cutter speed
- Mechanical cutter hydraulic pressure
- Water depth
- 2 x mini monochrome CCD cameras
- 2 x 24 VDC lights
Control Modes:
- Heading follow
- Cable follow
- Cable tracker follow
- Equal demand and offset
- Speed control to hydraulic pressure
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- 350 HP surface diesel driven hydraulic power pack
- Tool Deployment ram, subsea specification with spherical bearings both ends, fitted with ROTA linear transducer
- Slew ram, subsea specification with spherical bearings both ends, fitted with ROTA linear transducer
- Pressure, return and case drain filters

- Subsea valve tank with 3 x proportional and 4 x Directional control valve
- 1 x 150 m Electrical umbilical, standard camera umbilical, extruded polyurethane jacket, 14.5 mm OD fitted top and bottom with subsea connectors.
LCSWT - Telecoms
The LCSWT is powered remotely from the surface by a diesel driven hydraulic power pack. A key aspect of its design is that the system is readily road transportable and can be rapidly mobilised at a work site.
Outline Specification;
Length Overall (tool up) | 7.0m |
Width | 2.8m |
Height | 1.6m |
Weight in Air | 3.5t |
Standard Track Width | 0.5m |
Maximum Track Width | 1.1m |
Product MBR | 1.5m |
Product Diameter | 10-150mm |
Burial Tools;
Trench Depth | 2.2m |
Max Product Diameter | 180mm |
Product MBR | 1.5m |
Soils Type | Sands and clays up to 25kPa |
- 500 mm triple bar track shoes (alternative shoes/pads available)
- Sealed and lubricated track chains
- Carrier rollers, lower rollers and front idlers fitted with special seals and lubricant filled
- Standard track drive reduction gear fitted with fixed disp. Hydraulic motor
- HMI for graphical display of vehicle status
- Camera and light PSU’s
- Deployment ram controls
- Track drive controls
- RS 232 survey data link
- 1 x 150 m Electrical umbilical, extruded polyurethane jacket approx
- Burial depth
- Pitch
- Roll
- Cable angle at bellmouth
- Port and Starboard track speed
- Cable follow
- Equal demand and offset
Tool Deployment ram, subsea specification with spherical bearings both ends, fitted with ROTA linear transducer.
- Pressure, return and case drain filters
- Subsea valve tank with 2 x proportional and 1 x Directional control valve

Umbilical:
- 2 x 120 m hydraulic hose
- 1 x 120 m hydraulic hose
- 12 mm OD fitted top and bottom with subsea connectors