International Cable Protection Committee

Last updated
International Cable Protection Committee
ISCPC logo.png
Logo
Motto: Sharing the Seabed in Harmony with Others
Headquarters United Kingdom
MembershipMore than 190 Member organisations from over 69 countries
 
22 May 1958 (1958-05-22)
Website
www.iscpc.org

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is a submarine cable protection non-profit organisation. It was formed in 1958 to promote the protection of international telecommunications and power submarine cables against human and natural hazards. It provides a forum for the exchange of technical, legal, and environmental information about submarine cables and engages with stakeholders and governments globally to promote submarine cable protection. The ICPC has over 190 Member organisations from over 69 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments. The ICPC provides information related to submarine cables generally, best practices for cable protection, and applicable international law and treaties.

Contents

Over 99% of the world's intercontinental electronic communications traffic is carried by the undersea cable infrastructure. Likewise, submarine power cables underpin the global expansion of offshore renewable energy generation. As such, the impact of failures of these critical telecommunications and power cables can be devastating to social and economic stability. This is why submarine cables are classified as "critical infrastructure" that is to be protected worldwide from physical damage due to human made or natural causes. [1]

Prime Activities of the ICPC

The ICPC seeks to promote and protect freedoms to install and maintain submarine telecommunications and power transmission cables and mitigate risks of damage to those cables. It works with governments, other marine industries, international organisations (including various United Nations bodies), and NGOs to promote cable awareness, cable protection best practices, and effective international agreements. The ICPC actively participates in the negotiation of multilateral treaties relating to the oceans and monitors the development and implementation of other international agreements and national legislation in order to ensure cable protection and resilience. The ICPC supports peer-reviewed research into the interactions of cables with the marine environment to provide an evidence-based foundation for those interactions. [2] It commissions and encourages peer-reviewed research on the environmental characteristics of cables. The organisation also promulgates recommendations for cable installation, protection, and maintenance.

As directed by its executive committee, ICPC has prioritised work on the following issues: (1) cable awareness and reduction of cable damage risks (particularly from fishing and anchoring); (2) mitigating risks of deep seabed mining, including effective charting of cables in the deep ocean; (3) promoting cable security; (4) ensuring appropriate treatment of submarine cables under a new international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ); and (5) continuing development of ICPC Recommendations. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the ICPC has devoted significant effort to ensure that governments and industry take effective measures to ensure installation and repair of submarine cables continue during the tumultuous time because the world's reliance on submarine cables increased considerably. In April 2020, ICPC issued its “Call to Action” that proposed practical measures to ensure efficient conduct of submarine cable activities while protecting public health.

In early 2022, the ICPC published the document (in English, French and Spanish translations), “Government Best Practices for Protecting and Promoting Resilience of Submarine Telecommunications Cables” to assist governments in developing laws, policies, and practices to foster the development and protection of submarine telecommunications cables, the infrastructure of the Internet. In addition, a Best Practices Annex, titled: “Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) - Risks to Submarine Cable Deployment and Operations,” identifies recommended actions for governments to protect submarine telecommunications cables from interactions with Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) that are known to pose risk to marine vessel operations and damage cables during and after their installation. In presenting these Best Practices, the ICPC encourages government and industry discussions on this topic to ensure appropriate steps can be taken at a national and regional level to maintain continuity of critical telecommunications infrastructure.

History

The Cable Damage Committee was established on 22 May 1958. The name of the committee was later changed to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) in 1967 to better reflect the intended aims of the organisation and its membership. [3] The original intent was for the "Main Committee," as it was originally known, to formulate the policies, which a small Sub-Committee of Members, voted in at each Main Committee meeting. Adopted policies were then organised and subsequently implemented. In addition, the Sub-Committee ran the internal administration of the organisation through the Secretary.

In the early years, the Sub-Committee would meet frequently, organising many aspects, such as Cable Warning Charts - which were later devolved down to the organisation of individual Members. Most of the detailed notes from these early meetings have disappeared prior to 1975, but they always produced a formal report to the Main Committee.

The title "Plenary" for the Main Committee first appeared in 1972 but would not appear to have been a firm change, but rather a title that evolved gradually during the 1970s. By contrast, the title "Executive" for the Sub-Committee was a firm decision at the 1977 Plenary meeting. It shall be noted that previously in October 1974, ICPC held its 13th Plenary in Cape Town, South Africa and in 2018, the annual Plenary returned to the coastal city for its 60th Diamond Jubilee Plenary to celebrate 60 years of heritage since its incorporation in 1958. The offices of Chair, Vice-Chair and Executive Committee Members have been held by the member administration rather than the individual person. This enables a reorganisation of staff to take place within an administration, without effecting the committee's organisation. Before 1976 there was no vice-chair and, if the administration holding the chair was unable to attend, as occurred twice, then a chair had to be nominated at the start of the meeting. After 1976 the absence of the chair was more smoothly covered, as occurred in 1979 and 1991.

The Secretary was initially provided by Cable & Wireless Communications Ltd, and subsequently passed to the British Post Office in 1960, although for several years after that, the official address remained with Cable & Wireless. The Secretariat remained with BPO/British Telecom International continuously until 1990, when an independent Secretary was engaged. This was followed later by the appointment of an International Cable Legal Adviser (1999) and a Marine Environmental Adviser (2003).

Presently, governance is exercised by ICPC Limited, which operates through a 17-Member Executive Committee, elected by the ICPC membership.

Membership, Organisation, and Governance

As of September 2022, the ICPC has approximately 185 Members from over 65 countries.

Membership benefits include access to a repository of technical and environmental information and probably the largest single source of legal information on international submarine cables. Member organisations actively participate in the annual Plenary meeting and are also involved in ICPC's Working Groups.

ICPC membership has expanded, and since 2011 as national governments have been allowed to join as a Government Member in their own right. Government Members include Australia, Bermuda, France, Malta, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Since February 2013, Associate Membership is available to any individual or organisation that shares the goals of the ICPC.

The ICPC's full members elect an executive committee (EC), whose members serve staggered terms, as well as a Chair and Vice Chair (with individuals serving no more than three consecutive terms). The EC serves as ICPC's governing body. The ICPC also maintains a Secretariat and Project Manager, led by a General Manager, to provide day-to-day management and administration with the assistance of a small staff. ICPC appoints an International Cable Law Adviser (to advise and represent ICPC in international law and other legal matters), a Marine Environment Adviser (to advise on interactions between cables and the marine environment), and a United Nations Observer Representative (to represent the ICPC at the United Nations in New York).

Recommendations

The ICPC develops and maintains a suite of industry Recommendations targeted at the various lifespan stages of submarine cables, from conception to retirement. These Recommendations function as guides and best practices, but they are not standards, as ICPC is not a standard-setting organisation. They are available upon reasonable request to the Secretariat and are available to organisations through ICPC membership.

The Tyco Responder submarine telecommunications cable ship at dock back in February 2008. CS Tyco Responder-27527.jpg
The Tyco Responder submarine telecommunications cable ship at dock back in February 2008.

Educational Resources

As part of its cable awareness mission, and to assist its Members, the ICPC develops and distributes educational materials about the importance of submarine cables, their operational and environmental characteristics, their treatment under international and national law, and the risks of damage to cables. [1] [3] The ICPC and its Members use these materials to engage with governments, other ocean industries (including fishing, shipping, offshore energy, and mining), and the public.

In collaboration with the United Nations Environmental Programme World Climate Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the ICPC published a landmark report, "Submarine cables and the oceans: connecting the world," which provides a wealth of information about the importance of cables, their characteristics and operations, law and policy, environmental science, and history. This report is the most-viewed report ever published by UNEP-WCMC.

Relevant information is also provided to prospective new submarine cable owners to encourage the adoption of minimum industry standards for the benefit of all involved with the seabed. The ICPC has also entered into memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), SubOptic and Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy through the University of New Hampshire to further cooperation with these bodies. The ICPC also has working relationships with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Center for International Law at the National University of Singapore (CIL), Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP), EastWest Institute, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), ROGUCCI and Sargasso Sea Commission.

The ICPC also publishes a bi-annual, marine-focused newsletter titled "Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment.” This publication aims to provide timely information for seabed users, the scientific community and general public who share the same goal as the ICPC—safeguarding submarine telecommunications and power cables worldwide. Topics covered have included the use of cables to monitor the ocean, impacts of space weather on seafloor cables, and the role of cables in a post-COVID world.

Information Sharing

The ICPC provides a forum for Members to interact and learn about legal, technical, and environmental developments relevant to submarine cables where areas of common interest are identified such that Members can benefit from working together and each other's expertise and real-world experience. To ensure information sharing external to the ICPC, affiliations are also developed with equivalent seabed user organisations from all over the world. Formal relationships with appropriate international organisations are also developed with the goal of information sharing.

Projects

The ICPC engages in projects that are beneficial to the protection of submarine cable systems. For example, a global database showing fault causes and average repair times is developed and maintained, which has stimulated a range of applied and fundamental research projects with academic collaborators. Outcomes of this research have provided greater information on the frequency and nature of external threats for submarine cables, [4] [5] and has motivated follow-on research to understand how sediment and carbon are transported into the deep-sea. Research projects associated with the potential effects of submarine cables on the seabed environment are also performed to ensure harmony with the marine environment. [1] [6]

Research collaborations between the ICPC, cable companies and academic researchers led to the first measurements of powerful sediment avalanches triggered by river floods from the Congo River that ran out more than one thousand kilometres into the deep sea. [7] [8] These powerful flows damaged multiple seafloor cables offshore West Africa during the early stages of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and findings from this research are now implemented to design more resilient cable routes. [9]

Law

With guidance from its International Cable Law Adviser, the ICPC actively participates in the negotiation of oceans law treaties, advises Members on the treatment of cables under international law, and advocate for governments to adopt and implement their treaty obligations regarding submarine cable freedoms and submarine cable protection. It monitors the development and implementation of international agreements (particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and national legislation and maintains law and regulation resources for consultation and use by its membership.

The ICPC has long supported and participated in the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, the premier oceans law institute for mid-career professionals that is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire that is held in Rhodes, Greece each July. The ICPC sponsors the annual Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award, which fosters scholarship in the area of submarine cables and the law of the sea, and its International Cable Law Adviser teaches annually at the academy.

The ICPC regularly conducts workshops with international and regional bodies, national governments, and marine industries to promote cable awareness and observance of international law and to reduce risks of cable damage.

The ICPC sponsored a reference handbook based on unique collaboration of 15 industry experts, scientists, and international law scholars that address critical legal and governance issues, as it pertains to submarine cables deployed around the world.

Submarine Telecommunication Cables and the Marine Environment

The interactions between submarine cables and the marine environment are well documented in peer-reviewed scientific publications. [6] [1] [10] [11] [12] The ICPC supports such research as a means of providing evidence-based analyses to assist cable protection in naturally hazardous regions and cable operations in environmentally sensitive areas. [13] Briefly, cable/environmental interactions can be summarised as follows.

Deep Ocean (Greater than 2,000 Meters)

Over 80% of trans-oceanic telecommunications cables are in water depths >2000m. There, the risks posed by fishing and shipping (the main causes of cable damage and not from rumoured shark bites) are small. Accordingly, a typical cable is a 17-22mm diameter tube, the size of a domestic garden hose. It is composed of optical glass fibres, a copper power conductor and steel wires to add strength, all of which are encased in chemically inert, marine-grade polyethylene. [14] [15]

Cross section of a submarine telecommunications cable. #Polyethylene #Mylar tape #Stranded steel wires #Aluminium water barrier #Polycarbonate #Copper or aluminium tube #Petroleum jelly #Optical fibres Submarine cable cross-section 3D plain.svg
Cross section of a submarine telecommunications cable. #Polyethylene #Mylar tape #Stranded steel wires #Aluminium water barrier #Polycarbonate #Copper or aluminium tube #Petroleum jelly #Optical fibres

Laying is planned as a one-off operation in the 20-25 year life of a cable (note the operational life may extend to 30 or more years as improved signal processing has expanded the carrying capacity of some existing cables). Given their well proven design and low risk from deep ocean hazards, cables are subject to an average of four faults annually worldwide. [16] However, fault numbers may spike under extreme events such as a large submarine landslide (see Natural Hazards below).

While studies of cables and their interaction with deep-ocean organisms are few, independent research from the continental shelf (0-130m average water depth) and the upper continental slope down to around 1200m, [17] [18] [11] [19] reveals little effect of modern cables on animals living on and under the seabed. No statistical differences have been observed regarding the abundance, composition and diversity of organisms living near and distant from submarine cables. Any observed changes are usually within the natural variability of the animals studied.

Samples of Submarine Telecom Cables Submarine Optical Cables.jpg
Samples of Submarine Telecom Cables

Continental Margin (Less Than 2,000 Meters)

Aptly phrased the "urban sea,” this sector of the ocean is the focus of a wide range of human activities that include fishing, mineral exploration, shipping, dredging, renewable energy generation, scientific research as well as telecommunications. As a result, special measures are required to protect submarine cables. This includes (i) strengthening with steel wire armour, which increases cable diameter up to ~50mm, (ii) burial beneath the seabed [20] [15] and positive engagement with other seabed users to share information and knowledge regarding their respective industries.

Time-series observations of submarine telecommunications and power cables show that even when cables are buried, disturbance to benthic ecosystems is minor and temporary with the seabed returning to its natural state within months to years - the rate of recovery depending upon (i) the mode of cable deployment, (ii) wave and current regimes, (iii) rates of sediment supply to the ocean, (iv) seabed topography and geology and (v) biological activity. The continental shelf, where most cable repairs take place, is subject to waves, ocean currents and tides that restore the seabed back to its normal state on times scales of days (for strong tidal regions) to years. [6]

Many submarine telecommunications cable systems have no live current at all (called unrepeatered systems) (generally cable routes or sections of telecommunications cable under c.300 km in length) and are unpowered and hence have no or negligible electromagnetic field. This length also varies as new technology allows longer unrepeatered sections; hence the future effects will be much smaller, which could be highlighted in the forward view. Repeatered (powered) telecommunications systems do have a live current, but electrical fields are shielded, and currents are markedly lower than power transmission cables—with an electro-magnetic field less than a laptop computer. Magnetic fields induced by fibre optic cable powering are on the order of 30 to 38 microtesla (μT) at the cable surface. These values are lower than the background magnetic field produced by the Earth (60 μT). At 1 metre from the submarine cable to the magnetic field would be .30 to .38 μT or 1/100th of what it is at the surface of the cable. This is therefore very different to power cables, with a zone of influence of centimetres.

Natural Hazards

Most cable faults result from human activities, [21] [15] (see “Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment") Collectively, these activities account for over 65% of cable faults and occur primarily in water depths <200m. [10] [22] Damage resulting from natural phenomena account for around <10% of all cable faults, but this percentage can spike during or shortly after a major event such as large earthquakes or typhoons when multiple cables can become damaged. [23] [24] [5] On the continental shelf, waves and currents, especially those generated by storms, may abrade exposed cables and/or cause them to sway in the oscillating currents thus inducing fatigue. Those effects are minimised by cable armouring and burial beneath the seabed. Less frequent but nonetheless devastating are tsunamis such as the Great Tohōku Earthquake of 2011 that severely damaged Japanese coastal infrastructure. Such earthquakes may also generate submarine landslides and turbidity currents—sediment-laden currents that travel long distances (100s to 1000s kilometers) at high speeds (up to 68 kilometers/hour). These turbulent flows break cables in water depths down to 5000m and deeper. [23] [24] [5] For example, offshore Taiwan and Algeria suffered earthquakes in 2006 and 2003 that caused 22 and 29 cable breaks respectively. Turbidity currents may also form when large quantities of sediment are delivered to the ocean, such as following major flooding resulting from typhoons. The discharged flood waters are so heavily laden with mud and sand that they sink to the seabed and move downslope to initiate cable-damaging turbidity currents. [7] [25] Other natural causes of cable faults include seabed currents, which can be vigorous even in very deep waters and gouging by floating ice. While such forces may be locally significant, worldwide they are minor compared to earthquakes and storms.

While volcanic eruptions account for only a handful of instances of damage to submarine cables, the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano offshore Kingdom of Tonga in 2022 demonstrated how rare, but powerful eruptions can cause widespread damage and disrupt telecommunications in places that have few cable connections. As well as triggering an atmospheric shockwave that travelled three times around the world and a tsunami that reached as far as Peru, the eruption led to widespread damage of the only cable that connected Tonga to the global submarine cable network. [26] [27] This underlines the importance of diverse routes to improve network resilience.

Future climate change is likely to see an intensification of storms and offshore sediment transport in many regions, hence the ICPC takes an active interest in changing weather patterns and their influence on processes from the coast to the deep-sea.(see “Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment")

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea</span> International maritime law

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. As of May 2023, 168 countries and the European Union are parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine communications cable</span> Transoceanic communication line placed on the seabed

A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the seabed between land-based stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea. The first submarine communications cables were laid beginning in the 1850s and carried telegraphy traffic, establishing the first instant telecommunications links between continents, such as the first transatlantic telegraph cable which became operational on 16 August 1858.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottom trawling</span> Fishing method for fishing trawlers

Bottom trawling is trawling along the seafloor. It is also referred to as "dragging". The scientific community divides bottom trawling into benthic trawling and demersal trawling. Benthic trawling is towing a net at the very bottom of the ocean and demersal trawling is towing a net just above the benthic zone. Bottom trawling can be contrasted with midwater trawling, where a net is towed higher in the water column. Midwater trawling catches pelagic fish such as anchovies and mackerel, whereas bottom trawling targets both bottom-living fish (groundfish) and semi-pelagic species such as cod, squid, shrimp, and rockfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seabed</span> The bottom of the ocean

The seabed is the bottom of the ocean. All floors of the ocean are known as 'seabeds'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seabed gouging by ice</span> Outcome of the interaction between drifting ice and the seabed

Seabed gouging by ice is a process that occurs when floating ice features drift into shallower areas and their keel comes into contact with the seabed. As they keep drifting, they produce long, narrow furrows most often called gouges, or scours. This phenomenon is common in offshore environments where ice is known to exist. Although it also occurs in rivers and lakes, it appears to be better documented from oceans and sea expanses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbidity current</span> An underwater current of usually rapidly moving, sediment-laden water moving down a slope

A turbidity current is most typically an underwater current of usually rapidly moving, sediment-laden water moving down a slope; although current research (2018) indicates that water-saturated sediment may be the primary actor in the process. Turbidity currents can also occur in other fluids besides water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine engineering</span> Engineering and design of shipboard systems

Marine engineering is the engineering of boats, ships, submarines, and any other marine vessel. Here it is also taken to include the engineering of other ocean systems and structures – referred to in certain academic and professional circles as “ocean engineering.”

Subsea technology involves fully submerged ocean equipment, operations, or applications, especially when some distance offshore, in deep ocean waters, or on the seabed. The term subsea is frequently used in connection with oceanography, marine or ocean engineering, ocean exploration, remotely operated vehicle (ROVs) autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), submarine communications or power cables, seafloor mineral mining, oil and gas, and offshore wind power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep sea mining</span> Mineral extraction from the ocean floor

Deep sea mining is the extraction of minerals from the ocean floor at depths of 200 metres (660 ft) to 6,500 metres (21,300 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine landslide</span> Landslides that transport sediment across the continental shelf and into the deep ocean

Submarine landslides are marine landslides that transport sediment across the continental shelf and into the deep ocean. A submarine landslide is initiated when the downwards driving stress exceeds the resisting stress of the seafloor slope material, causing movements along one or more concave to planar rupture surfaces. Submarine landslides take place in a variety of different settings, including planes as low as 1°, and can cause significant damage to both life and property. Recent advances have been made in understanding the nature and processes of submarine landslides through the use of sidescan sonar and other seafloor mapping technology.

Nii Allotey Odunton, a mining engineer from Ghana, was the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, serving consecutive four-year terms starting in 2009 and ending in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Marine</span>

Orange Marine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Orange S.A. It is a major actor in the laying of new submarine communications cables and the maintenance of existing cables across the world's oceans. The company is active in all areas of these activities, including the study (survey) and the shore ends. Orange Marine took control of Elettra on 1 October 2010, and now operates six cable ships, which is 15% of the world fleet. The CEO of Orange Marine and Elettra is Raynald Leconte, Chief Engineer of Mines.

From 1946 through 1993, thirteen countries used ocean disposal or ocean dumping as a method to dispose of nuclear/radioactive waste with an approximation of 200,000 tons sourcing mainly from the medical, research and nuclear industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Offshore geotechnical engineering</span> Sub-field of engineering concerned with human-made structures in the sea

Offshore geotechnical engineering is a sub-field of geotechnical engineering. It is concerned with foundation design, construction, maintenance and decommissioning for human-made structures in the sea. Oil platforms, artificial islands and submarine pipelines are examples of such structures. The seabed has to be able to withstand the weight of these structures and the applied loads. Geohazards must also be taken into account. The need for offshore developments stems from a gradual depletion of hydrocarbon reserves onshore or near the coastlines, as new fields are being developed at greater distances offshore and in deeper water, with a corresponding adaptation of the offshore site investigations. Today, there are more than 7,000 offshore platforms operating at a water depth up to and exceeding 2000 m. A typical field development extends over tens of square kilometers, and may comprise several fixed structures, infield flowlines with an export pipeline either to the shoreline or connected to a regional trunkline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine pipeline</span> Pipeline that is laid on the seabed or below it inside a trench

A submarine pipeline is a pipeline that is laid on the seabed or below it inside a trench. In some cases, the pipeline is mostly on-land but in places it crosses water expanses, such as small seas, straits and rivers. Submarine pipelines are used primarily to carry oil or gas, but transportation of water is also important. A distinction is sometimes made between a flowline and a pipeline. The former is an intrafield pipeline, in the sense that it is used to connect subsea wellheads, manifolds and the platform within a particular development field. The latter, sometimes referred to as an export pipeline, is used to bring the resource to shore. Sizeable pipeline construction projects need to take into account many factors, such as the offshore ecology, geohazards and environmental loading – they are often undertaken by multidisciplinary, international teams.

The marine protected areas of South Africa are in an area of coastline or ocean within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of South Africa that is protected in terms of specific legislation for the benefit of the environment and the people who live in and use it. An MPA is a place where marine life can thrive under less pressure than unprotected areas. They are like underwater parks, and this healthy environment can benefit neighbouring areas.

Ocean development refers to the establishing of human activities at sea and use of the ocean, as well as its governance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seabed mining</span> Mineral recovery from the bottom of the sea

Seabed mining, also known as Seafloor mining is the recovery of minerals from the seabed by techniques of underwater mining. The concept includes mining at shallow depths on the continental shelf and deep-sea mining at greater depths associated with tectonic activity, hydrothermal vents and the abyssal plains. The increased requirement for minerals and metals used in the technology sector has led to a renewed interest in the mining of seabed mineral resources, including massive polymetallic sulfide deposits around hydrothermal vents, cobalt-rich crusts on the sides of seamounts and fields of manganese nodules on the abyssal plains. While the seabed provides a high concentration of valuable minerals, there is an unknown risk of ecological damage on marine species because of a lack of data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Union submarine internet cables</span> Issues around EU cable infrastructure

Submarine internet cables, also referred to as submarine communications cables or submarine fiber optic cables, connect different locations and data centres to reliably exchange digital information at a high speed.

On 25 June 2021, the president of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea, made a formal request to the president of the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) council to complete the adoption of rules, regulations and procedures necessary to facilitate the approval of plans of work for exploitation of deep-sea resources in the Area. This request is based on the "2-year rule", which is part of a provision from the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The provision can be found in section 1 of the annex, and it states that the ISA must complete the adoption of rules, regulations and procedures for the approval of the exploitation of deep-sea minerals within 2 years of the request. The ISA's current deadline for drafting new regulation is set in July 2023, although some claim that this is not a "hard" or "fixed" deadline. Due to the issue's complexity, negotiations have thus far failed to come to a concrete agreement. Even if it fails to set clear standards for deep-sea mining activities, the ISA must consider applications for exploitation in waters outside national jurisdictions and provisionally approve contracts after July 2023. Many experts fear that deep-sea mining activities that are not adequately regulated could significantly impact the marine environment, the economies of many nations and the livelihoods of indigenous groups who depend on the oceans for survival.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Biodiversity Series 31, "Submarine Cables and the Oceans – Connecting the World", p. 64, ISBN   978-0-9563387-2-3, ICPC/UNEP-WCMC January 2009
  2. Carter, L.; Milliman, J. D.; Talling, P. J.; Gavey, R.; Wynn, R. B. (28 June 2012). "Near-synchronous and delayed initiation of long run-out submarine sediment flows from a record-breaking river flood, offshore Taiwan". Geophysical Research Letters. 39 (12). Bibcode:2012GeoRL..3912603C. doi:10.1029/2012GL051172.
  3. 1 2 "International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC)"
  4. Pope, Ed L.; Talling, Peter J.; Carter, Lionel (February 2017). "Which earthquakes trigger damaging submarine mass movements: Insights from a global record of submarine cable breaks?". Marine Geology. 384: 131–146. Bibcode:2017MGeol.384..131P. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2016.01.009.
  5. 1 2 3 Carter, Lionel; Gavey, Rachel; Talling, Peter; Liu, James (1 June 2014). "Insights into Submarine Geohazards from Breaks in Subsea Telecommunication Cables". Oceanography. 27 (2): 58–67. doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2014.40 .
  6. 1 2 3 Kraus, Christoph; Carter, Lionel (June 2018). "Seabed recovery following protective burial of subsea cables - Observations from the continental margin". Ocean Engineering. 157: 251–261. doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.037.
  7. 1 2 Talling, Peter J.; Baker, Megan L.; Pope, Ed L.; Ruffell, Sean C.; Jacinto, Ricardo Silva; Heijnen, Maarten S.; Hage, Sophie; Simmons, Stephen M.; Hasenhündl, Martin; Heerema, Catharina J.; McGhee, Claire; Apprioual, Ronan; Ferrant, Anthony; Cartigny, Matthieu J. B.; Parsons, Daniel R.; Clare, Michael A.; Tshimanga, Raphael M.; Trigg, Mark A.; Cula, Costa A.; Faria, Rui; Gaillot, Arnaud; Bola, Gode; Wallance, Dec; Griffiths, Allan; Nunny, Robert; Urlaub, Morelia; Peirce, Christine; Burnett, Richard; Neasham, Jeffrey; Hilton, Robert J. (20 July 2022). "Longest sediment flows yet measured show how major rivers connect efficiently to deep sea". Nature Communications. 13 (1): 4193. Bibcode:2022NatCo..13.4193T. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31689-3. PMC   9297676 . PMID   35858962.
  8. Amos, J., “Underwater avalanche continued for two days”, BBC, June 2022 https://www.ukri.org/news/scientists-discover-worlds-longest-underwater-avalanche/
  9. “Scientists discover world’s longest underwater avalanche,” Research England and Innovate UK. 2022 https://www.ukri.org/news/scientists-discover-worlds-longest-underwater-avalanche/
  10. 1 2 Wood, Matthew Peter; Carter, Lionel (October 2008). "Whale Entanglements With Submarine Telecommunication Cables". IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. 33 (4): 445–450. Bibcode:2008IJOE...33..445W. doi:10.1109/JOE.2008.2001638. S2CID   30715516.
  11. 1 2 Kogan, Irina; Paull, Charles K.; Kuhnz, Linda A.; Burton, Erica J.; Von Thun, Susan; Gary Greene, H.; Barry, James P. (1 April 2006). "ATOC/Pioneer Seamount cable after 8 years on the seafloor: Observations, environmental impact". Continental Shelf Research. 26 (6): 771–787. Bibcode:2006CSR....26..771K. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2006.01.010.
  12. Gavey, R. (2012). An Evaluation of Modern Hyperpycnal Processes and their Relevance to the Geological Record (Thesis). p. 339.
  13. Kraus, Christoph; Carter, Lionel (1 June 2018). "Seabed recovery following protective burial of subsea cables - Observations from the continental margin". Ocean Engineering. 157: 251–261. doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.037. S2CID   115808242.
  14. Submarine Cables and the Oceans: Connecting the World. UNEP/Earthprint. 2009. ISBN   978-0-9563387-2-3.[ page needed ]
  15. 1 2 3 Burnett, D.R., Beckman, R.C. and Davenport, T.M. eds. Submarine Cables: the Handbook of Law and Policy. Martinus Nijhof Publishers. Chapter 10 pp. 237 254. ISBN 9789004260320
  16. Palmer Felgate, Andy, Nigel Irvine, Simon Ratcliffe and Seng Sui Bah, 2013. Marine Maintenance in the Zones – a Global Comparison of Repair Commencement Times. http://www.suboptic.org
  17. Andrulewicz, Eugeniusz; Napierska, Dorota; Otremba, Zbigniew (1 June 2003). "The environmental effects of the installation and functioning of the submarine SwePol Link HVDC transmission line: a case study of the Polish Marine Area of the Baltic Sea". Journal of Sea Research. 49 (4): 337–345. Bibcode:2003JSR....49..337A. doi:10.1016/S1385-1101(03)00020-0.
  18. Kuhnz, L.A.; Barry, J.P.; Buck, K.; Lovera, C.; Whaling, P.J. (2011). "Potential impacts of the Monterey accelerated research system (MARS) cable on the seabed and benthic fauna assemblages" (PDF). Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
  19. Grannis, Betsy M. (2005). Impacts of Mobile Fishing Gear and a Buried Fiber-Optic Cable on Soft-Sediment Benthic Community Structure (Thesis).
  20. Submarine Cables and the Oceans: Connecting the World. UNEP/Earthprint. 2009. ISBN   978-0-9563387-2-3.[ page needed ]
  21. Submarine Cables and the Oceans: Connecting the World. UNEP/Earthprint. 2009. ISBN   978-0-9563387-2-3.[ page needed ]
  22. Drew, S. (2010). "Submarine cables and other activities". In Carter, L. (ed.). Submarine Cables and the Oceans: Connecting the World. UNEP/Earthprint. ISBN   978-0-9563387-2-3.
  23. 1 2 Heezen, B. C.; Ewing, W. M. (1 December 1952). "Turbidity currents and submarine slumps, and the 1929 Grand Banks [Newfoundland] earthquake". American Journal of Science. 250 (12): 849–873. Bibcode:1952AmJS..250..849H. doi: 10.2475/ajs.250.12.849 .
  24. 1 2 Cattaneo, A.; Babonneau, N.; Ratzov, G.; Dan-Unterseh, G.; Yelles, K.; Bracène, R.; Mercier de Lépinay, B.; Boudiaf, A.; Déverchère, J. (10 July 2012). "Searching for the seafloor signature of the 21 May 2003 Boumerdès earthquake offshore central Algeria". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 12 (7): 2159–2172. Bibcode:2012NHESS..12.2159C. doi: 10.5194/nhess-12-2159-2012 . S2CID   53000282.
  25. Pope, Ed L.; Talling, Peter J.; Carter, Lionel (February 2017). "Which earthquakes trigger damaging submarine mass movements: Insights from a global record of submarine cable breaks?". Marine Geology. 384: 131–146. Bibcode:2017MGeol.384..131P. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2016.01.009.
  26. "The Tonga eruption explained, from tsunami warnings to sonic booms". National Geographic Society . 16 January 2022. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022.
  27. Robin George Andrew, “The Tonga eruption explained, from tsunami warnings to sonic booms,” National Geographic, 2022 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-science-behind-the-tonga-eruption-and-tsunami