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Product

subsea ROV umbilical, AUV tether & sonar tow cable ITU-T G.657 / DNV-ST-E402Optical (0 V) (-40 to +80 °C)Subsea / Marine Outer Protective She

4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV TetherITU-T G.657 / DNV-ST-E402 — Optical (0 V) — -40 to +80 °C Subsea & Marine Cable

4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether featuring bend-insensitive optical core (4×sm/mm) and subsea / marine outer protective sheath (ITU-T G.657 / DNV-ST-E402, Optical (0 V), -40 to +80 °C, min. bend radius 6 × OD).

Water-resistant

EMC screen

Outdoor & humid

Approved

Configuration

Order designation: 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether 1×SM Ultra-Slim
Outer Ø ≈: 0.9 mm
Net weight ≈: 1 kg/km
Max. pulling ≈: 0.5 kN
Core / stranding: ITU-T G.657.B3 + Non-Kink Buffer + Aramid

All sizes (3)

Request a quote Datasheet WhatsApp info@tebaoflex.com

Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum

Rated voltage: Optical (0 V)
Operating temp.: −40…+80 °C
Min. bend radius: 6 × OD
Core / conductor: Bend-Insensitive
Outer protection: Subsea / Marine
Standard: ITU-T G.657 / DN

Typical values for this cable type, based on ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether right for your machine?

Immersion & wet locations

Suitable

Hydrolysis-resistant subsea PUR or HDPE outer sheath and water-blocked core interstices withstand continuous deep-ocean hydrostatic immers

Vertical / spreader reel

Suitable

Contra-helical galvanized steel wire armour or high-modulus aramid/LCP braid supports vertical traction winches, TMS cages and tow sheaves

Free-hanging vertical run

Suitable

Torque-balanced armour or neutrally buoyant foamed-PUR jacket prevents hockling and kinking during free-swimming ROV and tether excursions

Offshore platform & shipboard deck trays

Suitable

Resists seawater, marine bio-fouling, hydraulic oil, UV radiation and abrasion across vessel A-frames and launch-and-recovery systems (LAR

Energy chain / drag chain

Not suitable

Subsea ROV umbilicals and tow cables are optimized for winch deployment and water-column catenaries rather than high-speed factory drag ch

Use Drag-Chain Feeder Cable

Typical machinesUnderwater & Ocean ExplorationWork-Class & Observation ROV Umbilicals and TMS TethersOffshore Aquaculture Net Cleaners & Subsea Cage InspectionAUV, Ocean Glider & Expendable Spool-Payoff Micro-TethersUSV Towed Sonar Arrays, Seabed Crawlers & Subsea Trenchers

Construction

Layer by layer

Shown: 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether (ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard) featuring bend-insensitive optical core (4×sm/mm), aramid / lcp braided strength member and subsea / marine outer protective sheath (3-layer construction).

4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether — stepped horizontal cutaway showing Bend-Insensitive Optical Core (4×SM/MM) and Subs — Layer cutaway

#	Layer	Material & reference
1	Bend-Insensitive Optical Core (4×SM/MM)	ITU-T G.652D / G.657A2 low-attenuation optical fiber
2	Aramid / LCP Braided Strength Member	High-tenacity synthetic fiber braid absorbing dynamic tension
3	Subsea / Marine Outer Protective Sheath	Black neutrally buoyant cellular foamed Polyurethane (Foamed PUR) outer sheath

4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether — Standard Subsea & Marine Execution

Built to ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard with bend-insensitive optical core (4×sm/mm) and subsea / marine outer protective sheath

4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether — Custom Winch Length / Molded Termination

Available on continuous export winch drums or factory-terminated with subsea wet-mate / mechanical sockets

4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether — Hydrostatic & Routine Certified

Supplied with EN 10204 3.1 routine dielectric, conductor/optical continuity & hydrostatic qualification report

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard. Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

Rated voltage / operating system: Optical (0 V) (ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard)
Core / conductor construction: Bend-Insensitive Optical Core (4×SM/MM) — ITU-T G.652D / G.657A2 low-attenuation optical fiber
Primary dielectric / optical buffer: Aramid / LCP Braided Strength Member — High-tenacity synthetic fiber braid absorbing dynamic tension

Thermal

Continuous operating temperature: −40…+80 °C (submerged seawater & topside deck service)
Hydrostatic & thermal cycling endurance: Verified cold-bend and wet dielectric stability across −40…+80 °C per ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard
Storage & transport temperature: −40…+80 °C on export wooden/steel cable drum

Mechanical

Outer jacket / sheath protection: Subsea / Marine Outer Protective Sheath — Black neutrally buoyant cellular foamed Polyurethane (Foamed PUR) outer sheath
Minimum bending radius: 6 × OD
Reinforcement / screen / bedding layer: Aramid / LCP Braided Strength Member — High-tenacity synthetic fiber braid absorbing dynamic tension

Resistance

Seawater, hydrolysis & oil resistance: Resistant to permanent seawater immersion, hydrolysis, hydraulic oil and bio-fouling per ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard
Hydrostatic pressure & water blocking: Radial and longitudinal water-blocking integrity verified per ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard
RoHS & REACH compliance: RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU + 2015/863) & REACH SVHC compliant

Reference standards

Governing standard: ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard
Subsea & conductor qualification standards: IEC 60228 / DNV-ST-E402 / ISO 13628-5 / IEC 60794 / EN 10204
Quality management & inspection: ISO 9001:2015 & EN 10204 3.1 factory routine inspection

Identification

Model designation: 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether
Sheath colour & metre marking: Continuous metre-marked yellow outer finish (Subsea / Marine )
Customs tariff (HS): 8544.49 / 8544.60 / 8544.70

Sizes

3 standard 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether configurations

Manufactured to ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard for subsea robotics, ROV umbilicals, marine aquaculture and offshore sensor applications.

Dimensions, tensile load & weights
Order designation	Configuration	Core / stranding	Outer Ø ≈ mm	Net weight ≈ kg/km	Max. pulling kN ≈	Min. bend R mm
4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether Construction Schedule (−40…+80 °C)
4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether 1×SM Ultra-Slim	1 × G.657.B3 Single-Mode Micro-Tether	ITU-T G.657.B3 + Non-Kink Buffer + Aramid	0.9	1	0.5	10
4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether 2×SM Buoyant	2 × G.657.B3 Single-Mode Buoyant Tether	ITU-T G.657.B3 + Aramid/LCP + Foamed PUR	2.8	6	2.2	20
4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether 4×SM/MM Tactica	4 × G.657.A2/OM3 Subsea Optical Tether	Tight-Buffered Fiber + Aramid + Subsea PUR	5.6	28	6.8	35

Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
Custom core counts, optical fiber channels, wet-mate terminations and continuous winch lengths available per ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard.

Electrical, optical & thermal parameters
Configuration	Max. DC R₂₀ Ω/km	Rating / Impedance / Load	Operating temp.
1 × G.657.B3 Single-Mode Micro-Tether	0.01	1310/1550 nm (≤0.35 dB/km)	−40…+80 °C
2 × G.657.B3 Single-Mode Buoyant Tether	0.01	1310/1550 nm · SG ≈ 1.01	−40…+80 °C
4 × G.657.A2/OM3 Subsea Optical Tether	0.01	4-Ch Optical · 6.8 kN MBS	−40…+80 °C

Every production length undergoes routine conductor DC resistance / OTDR optical attenuation, AC dielectric and dimensional verification.

Quality & approvals

Testing & inspection

Routine tests on every production length, sample and type tests per batch — documented on an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate.

ConductorClass 5 stranding
Spark test100 % in-line
Lay-upCores, earth, fillers
SheathingInner, braid / screen, outer
Electrical testsAC voltage, resistance
DimensionsOD, wall thickness
Inspection documents & dispatchDrum & dispatch

Testing & inspection	Test value / reference	Frequency
Routine tests
Conductor DC resistance / OTDR optical & dimensional check (ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard)	DC resistance at 20 °C, optical attenuation and wall thickness within ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard limits	Every manufactured drum length
AC high-voltage dielectric & insulation resistance test (ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard)	Zero dielectric breakdown and verified wet insulation resistance for Optical (0 V) rating	Every manufactured drum length
Sample tests
Hydrostatic pressure, tensile load & seawater immersion qualification (ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard)	Verified hydrostatic pressure integrity, breaking load and flex endurance across −40…+80 °C	Type qualification & periodic lot audit

Inspection certificate

Issued with every drum, listing the routine test results for that length.

Product approvals

ITU-T G.657 / DNV-ST-E402 CompliantEN 10204 3.1 Factory Test CertificateCE, RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU) & REACH

Company certificates

ISO 9001ISO 14001ISO 45001VDE marks approvalUL / cULCE · LVD / EMC

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

TEBAOFLEX 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether ITU-T G.657 / DNV-ST-E402 Optical (0 V) CE

Delivery form: Heavy-duty export fumigated wooden drums, steel winch reels or pre-terminated subsea assemblies
Standard lengths: 500 m, 1,000 m, 3,000 m continuous winch lengths or custom cut-to-length subsea jumpers
MOQ: 100 m (standard configurations) · 300 m (custom subsea builds)
Lead time: 2–4 weeks ex-works
Incoterms: EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP

Technical documents

Downloads

PDF4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether – technical datasheet3 sizes · construction, technical data, approvals XLSX4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether spec data (Excel)All 3 sizes with dimensions and data, for your BOM or quotation

Revision: 2026-10-29
Updated: 2026-10-29

FAQ

Questions engineers ask first

Not covered here? Send your drawing — an engineer replies within 2 business hours.

What governing standard and construction define 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether (4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether)?

4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether (4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether) is manufactured in accordance with ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard for Optical (0 V) subsea,ROV and marine aquaculture service over -40 to +80 °C. Its 3-layer construction comprises bend-insensitive optical core (4×sm/mm), aramid / lcp braided strength member and subsea / marine outer protective sheath.

What is the minimum bending radius and operating temperature range for 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether?

The minimum bending radius for 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether is 6 × OD across its continuous operating temperature range of -40 to +80 °C, ensuring mechanical flex endurance and hydrostatic reliability in subsea winches, TMS cages and aquaculture installations.

How are the concentric layers of 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether arranged from inside to outside?

From inside to outside, the construction sequence is: (01) Bend-Insensitive Optical Core (4×SM/MM) — ITU-T G.652D / G.657A2 low-attenuation optical fiber; (02) Aramid / LCP Braided Strength Member — High-tenacity synthetic fiber braid absorbing dynamic tension; (03) Subsea / Marine Outer Protective Sheath — Black neutrally buoyant cellular foamed Polyurethane (Foamed PUR) outer sheath.

What factory test certificates are supplied with 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether?

Every production drum of 4GAX181 Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether undergoes routine conductor DC resistance / optical OTDR continuity, AC high-voltage dielectric and dimensional testing per ITU-T G.657 & DNV 4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber-Optic ROV Tether Standard, and is delivered with an EN 10204 3.1 factory test certificate.

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01Selected sizes

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03Message for our engineers

4GAX181 Neutrally Buoyant Fiber ROV Tether

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