European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA)

News

Updated ESCA Position Statement on Vessels Operating in the Vicinity of Subsea Cables
Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Following the recent update to the Marine Guidance Note 661 issued by the MCA, ESCA has updated its position statement on Vessels Operating in the Vicinity of Subsea Cables which can be downloaded from Here

ESCA continues to recommend safe and responsible practices for vessels working in the vicinity of subsea cables, and the advice is in line with maritime safety guidance. This update also continues to promote the work of KIS-ORCA and support the primary goals of ESCA in promoting cable awareness and maritime safety.

ESCA Position Statement on Post-Installation Fishing Gear Trials
Wednesday, 26 January 2022

There have been ongoing discussions on the subject of ‘Over-Trawl Trials’ recently, whereby following the installation of a submarine cable trials are undertaken to ascertain the risk of snagging for fishing gear. With this in mind, the ESCA Position Statement on Post-Installation Fishing Gear Trials has been updated to reaffirm the problems with such practices and can be downloaded from Here

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Become an ESCA Member

If you are a marine cable owner, operator, consultant or supplier and are interested in joining the European Subsea Cable Association, please contact the ESCA Secretary or download the Membership Application Form

Members Area

Articles

Submarine cables (telecommunications and power) are critical to the UK and Europe's future digital economy and energy needs. To many people submarine cable infrastructure is unseen and little thought about. When articles about submarine cables are written they tend to contain spurious information about shark bites or being tapped by the worlds clandestine security agencies. Some people still think most international communications are carried by satellite!

European Subsea Cables Association have therefore produced two articles, one on telecommunication cables and one on power cables. The articles are non-technical in nature and are intending to be an informative and easy read.

Articles can be viewed online and are also available to download and can be freely distributed.

Submarine Telecommunication Cables

Ever since the first international submarine cable, a copper-based telegraph cable, was laid across the Channel between the United Kingdom and France in 1850, the submarine telecommunications industry has been connecting countries and continents.

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Submarine Telecommunications Cables

Submarine Power Cables

The first submarine cable to carry electricity was laid across the Isar River in Bavaria during 1811. Submarine power cables have evolved significantly since then, through developments in technology and design, ever increasing in capacity and length.

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Submarine Power Cables

About

The European Subsea Cables Association is a forum of national and international companies which own, operate or service submarine cables in the UK and surrounding waters.

Cable Awareness

Commercial fishing is the most dangerous occupation in Europe. In the UK for example, typically some 20 to 25 fishermen are killed in fishing accidents each year, which is many times greater than in other industries.

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Cable Safety

Fouling a submarine cable can be extremely hazardous to fishing vessels. Damage to submarine cables is expensive to repair and can cause disruption to power distribution and international telecommunications.

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Links

Sites of interest; Organisations, Authorities, Cable Protection & Awareness, Forums, Legal and Offshore links.

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Contacts

Contact details, including emails and postal address, for European Subsea Cables Association.

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Members

A list of European Subsea Cables Association members, including Telecommunications, Power, Renewable Energy and Consulatant companies and organisations.

The European Subsea Cables Association is an organisation of submarine cable owners, operators and suppliers and is primarily aimed at promoting marine safety and protecting cable installations in European and surrounding waters.