Global growth in offshore wind power is creating a shortage of purpose-built cable-laying vessels (CLVs). Retrofitting existing offshore support vessels offers a cost-effective alternative, but these conversions bring together tensioners, carousels and ancillary equipment from multiple vendors that rely on proprietary controls, leaving co-ordination to human operators and voice radio. Manual operation limits precision, scalability and safety at a time when cable-lay tasks are becoming more complex. This thesis responds by designing and evaluating a vendor-neutral integration framework that enables multi-machine automation on retrofitted CLVs.

The research follows a stepwise approach. A literature review first identifies three principal barriers to integration: incompatible communication protocols, intrusive or unreliable sensing and lengthy re-mobilisation after each deck re-layout. From these findings, requirements are derived for an Information and Communication Technology framework that combines robust on-deck tension measurement, modular control logic and real-time data exchange.

A representative case study, consisting of a vertical two-track tensioner and a 375-tonne carousel, is modelled in OrcaFlex and equipped with Proportional-Integral-Derivative controllers. Historical field data are used to tune and verify the model, confirming that simulated tensions, velocities and cable kinematics remain within operational limits.

An OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) layer is then integrated as a high-level supervisor to synchronise set points, measurements and alarms. Performance is benchmarked against the verified model using key indicators such as mean-squared error, relative tension error, response time and communication overhead. Results show that OPC UA introduces less than three per cent additional latency and negligible computational load while maintaining co-ordination accuracy under nominal and extreme scenarios. The framework also reduces operator workload from two dedicated operators to one supervisory role and shortens mobilisation time by standardising plug-and-play machine interfaces.

The study demonstrates that retrofitted CLVs can achieve safe, scalable automation through a structured, simulation-verified framework rooted in open standards. The proposed architecture offers a practical pathway towards higher levels of autonomy in offshore cable installation and can be extended to additional machinery or vessel classes with minimal modification.