2024 ICPC – CIL Workshop Report: Law of the Sea and Submarine Cables Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 5.85 MB
This joint report by the ICPC and the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore (CIL) results from a one-day law of the sea workshop jointly organised by the ICPC and CIL (with support from Infocomm Media Development Authority Singapore and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) following the 2024 ICPC Plenary that was held in Singapore. The report addresses key law of the sea issues and prospects for collaboration between industry and governments on installation, repair, protection, and security of submarine cables.

Routledge Handbook of Ocean Resources and Management - Chapter 23: Subsea Telecommunications Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 2.38 MB
The Routledge Handbook of Ocean Resources and Management was published by Earthscan from Routledge. Edited by Hance D Smith, Juan Luis de Suarez de Vivero and Tundi S Agardy. First published in 2015. Hardback ISBN 978-0-415-53175 and E-book ISBN-978-0-203-11539-8. Chapter 23 'Subsea Telecommunications' was jointly authored by Professor Lionel Carter (ICPC Marine Environmental Advisor) and Mr. Douglas Burnett (ICPC International Cable Law Advisor). In recognition of the importance of submarine telecommunications cables to our socio-economic well-being, this paper has been prepared to provide a readable account of these fibre-optic systems for the non-specialist.

An Introduction to the ICPC Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 1.18 MB
PDF slide presentation.

Submarine cables and the oceans: connecting the world Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 2.62 MB
A report prepared in collaboration with UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme), which is designed to provide an objective, factual description of the submarine cable industry and the interaction of submarine telecommunications with the marine environment.

Loss Prevention Bulletin - Damage to Submarine Cables Caused by Anchors Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 82 KB
A bulletin explaining the risk to cables from vessels having their anchor deployed while under way.

Fishing and Submarine Cables Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 1.81 MB
Informative booklet showing how the fishing and submarine cable communities can work together.

A Bibliography of Submarine Communication and Power Cables (Issue 2 Dated June 2017) Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 590 KB
Compiled by Christoph Kraus (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) and Prof. Lionel Carter (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and ICPC Marine Environmental Advisor).

This bibliography is derived from references used in a series of publications made in association with the ICPC. As such, the references deal mainly with environmental aspects of submarine cables. However, when necessary, various aspects of cable technology are also covered, for example, a study underway into the recovery of the seabed from cable burial also deals with cable ploughs and their operation.

Direct Monitoring of Active Geohazards: Emerging Geophysical Tools for Deep-water Assessments Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 1.36 MB
A recent review by Dr Michael Clare (National Oceanography Centre, UK) and colleagues outlines a new phase of research into submarine landslides and turbidity currents – the main natural threats to submarine cables. The research centres on real-time monitoring of these hazards in order to determine their frequency, cause(s) and dynamics. One of the senior co-authors, Professor Peter Talling, was funded by a Royal Society Industry Fellowship, which was hosted by the ICPC. Reference: Clare, M.A., Vardy, M.E., Cartigny, M.J.B., Talling, P.J., Himsworth M.D., Dix, J.K., Harris, J.M., Whitehouse, R.J.S., Belal, M., 2017. Direct monitoring of active geohazards: emerging geophysical tools for deep-water assessments. Surface Geophysics, 15, 427-444. doi: 10.3997/1873-0604.2017033.

Submarine Cables as a Sustainable Use of the Deep Sea Environment Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 3.07 MB
An ICPC presentation that was provided to an event in the Biodoversity Beyond National Jurisdiction negotiation process.

Submarine Cables and Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 2.61 MB
This paper was submitted by the ICPC to provide the PrepCom with information on submarine cables, their contribution to sustainable development and their relationship to the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The views presented generally reflect the consensus of the international community of interest in submarine cables that includes cable owners, cable ship operators, marine route surveyors, scientific institutions and interested governments. Every effort, however, is made to provide references to peer reviewed scientific, engineering, and legal references to assist the diplomats to carry out a dispassionate review while working on “development of an internationally binding instrument under the United Nations Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction".