Lovink cable splices make the port reliable and free of failures

Lovink MV splices reduce cable failures at UK ports

Associated British Ports (ABP) operates 21 ports and jetty facilities across the UK coastline. Five of these sites form the South Wales business group, where Lovink Enertech’s LoviSil® silicone splice technology has proven exceptionally reliable—especially when working with older PILC cable circuits in waterlogged environments.

South Wales: home to the largest private MV network in Southern UK

Collectively, the five ABP ports in South Wales maintain the largest privately operated medium voltage (MV) network in the southern UK. In Newport, some circuits date back to the 1950s and still use the original PILC cable. The extensive network includes 24 substations, which require dependable splicing solutions to maintain uptime.

Aging networks and the cost of cable splice failures

Legacy cables often mean frequent MV splice failures. These issues are not just technical—they’re expensive. According to Craig Hooper, Senior Technical Assistant – Electrical at Newport Docks, ABP previously faced an average of one splice failure per year across the five South Wales ports. Each repair cost between £7,500 and £24,000, not including the downtime for port tenants.

To reduce this risk, ABP began using Lovink Enertech’s LoviSil® 11kV splices over a decade ago. Since making the switch, they’ve experienced no failures in these splices. The decision to invest slightly more upfront has resulted in major cost savings and greater network reliability.

Designed for high water tables and harsh conditions

What made ABP choose LoviSil® cable splices? Craig recalls a turning point: “I remember being called into John Bamford’s office to review a new splice. It looked much more robust than what we had been using. John, who served as senior engineer in Newport for many years, said it reminded him of the old cast iron and lead sleeve splices—extremely reliable but incompatible with modern polymeric cables.”

Environmental conditions were another major factor. The Newport area has a high water table, and flooding is a constant concern. Craig adds: “We often install splices in trenches that need continuous pumping. Sometimes, they refill before we can finish. When we learned that LoviSil® was designed for the Dutch market—with similar water issues—we knew it was worth a try. Since then, we’ve had zero failures.”

Key benefits of Lovink MV splices for ports and legacy networks

✅ Proven durability in waterlogged and flood-prone areas
✅ Reliable performance when connecting to aging PILC cables
✅ Long-term cost savings by preventing repeat failures
✅ Trusted by engineers in one of the UK’s busiest port networks

Real results from real conditions

By switching to LoviSil® splicing technology, ABP significantly reduced the frequency and cost of splice failures. For networks built on older cable systems, especially in moisture-heavy environments, this solution offers unmatched performance, safety, and reliability.