Message from the International Cable Protection Committee: Recent Events Involving Submarine Cables in the Red Sea
Wednesday, 28 February 2024PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the world’s leading organisation promoting submarine cable protection and resilience, notes with concern reports of submarine cable damage in the Red Sea. Consistent with ICPC’s Government Best Practices for Protecting and Promoting Resilience of Submarine Telecommunications Cables, the ICPC urges operators to investigate the causes of damage to Red Sea cables and engage with governments about the implications of such damage. The global submarine cable network of more than 400 cable systems and 1.5 million kilometres of submarine cables cross the oceans worldwide. This network underpins our daily lives, carrying more than 99% of all digital data traffic worldwide, including the Internet. On average around 150 faults occur each year, which are mostly due to accidental human activities such as fishing and anchoring.
The ICPC also urges governments to coordinate with operators to identify and mitigate causes of damage, expedite permits for repairs, and provide security for vessels engaged in such repairs.
About the ICPC: To promote submarine cable protection and resilience, the ICPC works with its members, governments, international organisations, other marine industries, and the scientific community to: mitigate risks of natural and human damage to cables; develop recommendations and best practices for industry and governments throughout the cable project life cycle; promote scientific research addressing how cables exist in the marine environment; and promote the rule of law for the oceans. The ICPC has more than 215 member organisations from 70 countries who build, operate, and maintain submarine telecommunications and power cable infrastructure. To learn more, send an e-mail to secretariat@iscpc.org.
2024 ICPC Plenary 'Call for Presentations'
Wednesday, 22 November 2023Abstracts Due, Friday 26th January 2024
Formerly named the ‘Call for Papers,’ ICPC is very pleased to announce the issuance of the 2024 ICPC 'Call for Presentations’ for the forthcoming Plenary that will take place in Singapore at the Orchard Hotel from 30th April – 2nd May 2024.
Under the theme ‘Ensuring a Connected Future,’ ICPC seeks presentation abstracts highlighting the following cable protection concepts:
- Applying new and emerging technologies
- Learning from project case studies
- Understanding emerging issues, challenges, and proposed solutions
- Operating in crowded marine areas
- Managing increasing regulation
- Defining sustainability in relation to cable protection
International Cable Protection Committee Announces Dates for the 2024 Plenary
Thursday, 03 August 2023The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce the 2024 ICPC Plenary will be held in Singapore at the Orchard Hotel from 30 April – 2 May 2024.
After holding a very successful Plenary this past April in Spain, next year the ICPC will bring the submarine cable community together once again, but this time in the Southeast Asia region. Details such as hotel reservations and registrations, will be issued in due course, but this forthcoming November, ICPC will release its Plenary Call for Papers along with the event’s theme and suggested topics for abstract submissions. Abstracts will be considered from both Member and non-Member organisations including the cable industry, academics, and the science and legal communities.
Referring to the recent 2023 Plenary, Mr Graham Evans (ICPC Chair), remarked: ‘With a record-setting number of delegates in ICPC’s Plenary history, it was wonderful to hold an in-person event under the umbrella topic of submarine cable protection and security worldwide after a few years in a virtual setting. The event in Spain was outstanding and we expect an even better event in Singapore.’
Expanding upon the importance of being involved in the ICPC and attending its annual plenaries, Mr Ryan Wopschall (ICPC General Manager), stated: ‘Membership continues to grow as interest in this industry persists to evolve, while new areas of focus call for recommendations, outreach and engagement. Next year, we look forward to hearing from familiar faces (as well as new ones) discussing and exchanging vital information relevant to our undersea community.’
About the ICPC Plenary. The Plenary offers participants the opportunity to enhance their industry knowledge by networking with colleagues and customers as well as meeting with exhibitors who showcase their products and services. Delegates will witness an agenda full of pertinent presentations, round table debates and interviews. Current ICPC Members, guest observers and invited speakers from around the world will gather under one roof for three days to listen, learn, and discuss from a diverse set of topics about the vital importance of submarine power and fibre optic cables and their protection worldwide.
International Cable Protection Committee Welcomes New Marine Biodiversity Treaty, Calls on All Parties to Promote Regulatory Certainty and Network Resilience
Tuesday, 27 June 2023The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) welcomes the formal adoption on 19 June 2023 of a new international treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the ‘BBNJ treaty’). The ICPC calls on all parties to implement the treaty to promote regulatory certainty and resilience for submarine cables and recognise them as critical infrastructure and a sustainable use of the oceans, and it commits to work with them to achieve that objective. The ICPC congratulates the negotiators on the BBNJ treaty and offers its particular thanks to the treaty conference President, Ambassador Rena Lee of Singapore, for her leadership and inclusion of non-governmental organisations such as the ICPC in these negotiations.
Voice of submarine cable industry in the negotiations. The ICPC is the premier global organisation dedicated to protecting submarine cables from natural and human risks of damage and promoting resilience of submarine cable networks. It participated in the treaty conference and the preparatory work that proceeded it in order to provide negotiators with scientific, technical, and practical information about submarine cables that would enhance their understanding and improve the text. The ICPC will not be a party to the treaty, as it is not a state.
Preserving UNCLOS freedoms and protections for the world’s Internet infrastructure. In the negotiations, the ICPC sought to ensure that the BBNJ treaty preserved the submarine cable freedoms and cable protection provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS expressly recognised the importance of promoting international communications, and it has provided a stable legal environment that has fostered the deployment of more than 400 submarine telecommunications cables that connect most of the world’s developed and developing coastal states to provide approximately 99 percent of the world’s internet, voice, and data connectivity.
A sustainable use of the oceans. Submarine telecommunications cables support the full range of human activity, including electronic commerce, financial transactions, tele-health, tele-education, social and cultural exchanges, scientific and climate-change observation, disaster warning, government services, and security. Extensive peer-reviewed scientific research shows that submarine cable installation and repair have a neutral-to-benign environmental impact on the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Promoting regulatory certainty and resilience in treaty implementation. It is critical that implementation of the BBNJ treaty result in regulatory certainty, in order to promote the timely installation and repair of this long-term fixed telecommunications infrastructure. Implementation must also promote resilience, with a multiplicity of geographically diverse, efficient, and secure submarine cable routes that ensure continuity of communications for the states and people they connect. The BBNJ treaty, however, contains very general language, and its institutions have yet to be established. The ICPC therefore seeks to work with these parties and the institutions (once they are established) to achieve outcomes in three principal areas.
- Environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The ICPC believes that submarine cable installation and repair will fall below the BBNJ treaty thresholds that would trigger additional environmental scrutiny (either through an initial vetting process known as ‘screening’ or more formal EIAs). But states and the new Scientific and Technical Body (STB) to be established under the treaty will need to apply the best available science and traditional knowledge to reach that conclusion. The ICPC supports the development by the STB of a presumptive list of marine activities that would not require an EIA, and the inclusion of submarine cable installation on such a list. The ICPC also seeks to confirm the understanding that repairs are excluded from the scope of ‘planned activities’ that could require screening or a potential EIA. The ICPC and its members therefore seek to participate in processes at the national level and in treaty institutions to confirm these understandings and, ultimately, to ensure timely and predictable permitting of new submarine cables and repairs of existing ones.
- Area-based management tools and marine protected areas (ABMTs/MPAs). To promote network resilience by preserving the ability to route new submarine cables securely and efficiently and conduct timely repair existing cables, the ICPC and its members seek to engage with states and treaty institutions in all phases of establishment and implementation of ABMTs/MPAs. In all phases, the ICPC and its members seek to ensure the use of the existing and extensive scientific research on the environmental characteristics of cables. Ultimately, the ICPC believes that submarine cables and new ABMTs/MPAs will coexist in areas beyond national jurisdiction, just as they already do in existing marine protected areas in the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelf areas of coastal states.
- Institutional considerations. The ICPC seeks to ensure that the institutions and processes established under the BBNJ treaty address submarine cable activities and infrastructure and that the ICPC—consistent with the treaty’s transparency provisions—be permitted to participate and speak in such processes. It also seeks the inclusion of individuals with submarine cable technical expertise on the STB’s roster of experts.
International Cable Protection Committee Sponsors 2023 Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Competition
Tuesday, 21 March 2023Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) sponsors the Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. With the award, the ICPC seeks to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. In 2022, the selection jury chose Ms. Sophie Ryan as the winner for her paper ‘Submarine Cables and Belligerent Rights in Armed Conflict.’
Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners (including ICPC representatives) about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNLCOS). It is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes, led by the University of New Hampshire. The Rhodes Academy’s twenty-sixth session will convene in Greece from 2-21 July 2023. Numerous students affiliated with ICPC Members have graduated from the Rhodes Academy. The ICPC is proud to support the Rhodes Academy. For more information about the Rhodes Academy (including application procedures), see https://marine.unh.edu/academics/rhodes-academy.
The Award. The award winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to a future Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, or for a graduate of the Rhodes Academy Graduate from a prior year, a cash award of GB £4,500. The winner will also be invited to speak at a future ICPC Plenary meeting.
Eligibility and Process. The Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award is open to: any person aspiring to attend the Rhodes Academy (the candidate must meet the admissions requirements); a Rhodes Academy Graduate from a prior year. Papers should be suitable for publication in a scholarly international law journal and must consist of 7,500 – 10,000 words (excluding footnotes). To register to compete for the award, interested candidates should send an abstract (no more than 300 words) and a short biography to the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore, lawtmd@nus.edu.sg, which administers the competition on behalf of ICPC and the Rhodes Academy. Papers must be submitted to CIL, also at lawtmd@nus.edu.sg, no later than 28 April 2023. Papers will be reviewed anonymously by the selection jury, consisting of three members designated by the Rhodes Academy and one by the ICPC.
About the ICPC: The ICPC is the world’s premier submarine cable protection organisation. It was formed in 1958 to promote the protection of international submarine cables—the infrastructure of the Internet—against human made 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 Members from 69 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments. For further information about the ICPC, see www.iscpc.org and www.linkedin.com/company/icpc-ltd/.
ICPC Contact:
Kent Bressie, International Law Adviser, ICPC
+1 202 730 1337
kbressie@hwglaw.com
News Release: ICPC Issues its ‘Call for Papers’ for its In-Person 2023 Annual Plenary
Friday, 16 December 2022Under the theme ‘Submarine Cable Resilience—Back to Basics,’ the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is delighted to announce the 2023 ICPC ‘Call for Papers’ has been officially issued for the forthcoming Plenary that will take place in-person after three years in a virtual setting. ICPC now seeks presentation abstracts from ICPC Member and non-Member organisations including the cable industry, academics, and the science and legal communities.
This year’s annual Plenary will take place in Madrid, Spain from 18th – 20th April 2023. Current ICPC Members, guest observers, invited speakers, and exhibitors from around the world will gather under one roof for three days to listen, learn, and discuss from a diverse set of topics about the vital importance of submarine power and fibre optic cables and their protection worldwide. If interested in presenting at the event, please submit your abstract by
Ahead of the event, ICPC General Manager Mr Ryan Wopschall commented: ‘It has been a long road to get back to this point, but we are doing it—we will be in-person in Madrid in 2023! The Plenary has always been such a valuable venue for discussing the protection of submarine cables. If anything, the pandemic has showed us how vital this infrastructure is, and for that reason we have themed the event around the concept of resilience. As an organisation, we are also resilient, as is the submarine cable industry. Through the pandemic, the ICPC has taken initiatives to sponsor numerous research projects for the benefit of its members, we have maintained our relationships with our affiliate organisations, and our membership has grown to record levels allowing new relationships to be formed. On behalf of the ICPC, we look forward to meeting with new and veteran members, guest and invited speakers, and to rekindle the cornerstone of the ICPC—the annual Plenary.’
About the Plenary. The Plenary will offer participants the opportunities to enhance their industry knowledge by networking with colleagues and customers as well as meeting with exhibitors who will be showcasing their products and services. Delegates will find an agenda full of pertinent presentations, round table debates and interviews.
2023 ICPC Plenary: Call for Papers
Thursday, 01 December 2022The ICPC is pleased to announce that after three years, we are returning back to an in-person Plenary for 2023. This much awaited-for-event will be held at the NOVOTEL Madrid Center in Madrid, Spain from 18th - 20th April 2023.
Under the theme, ‘Submarine Cable Resilience—Back to Basics,’ the ICPC now seeks presentation abstracts that address the foundational aspects of cable protection, forming the basis of resilient cable infrastructure. The Abstract deadline date is
Appreciation of ICPC Advice by Indonesian Naval Hydro-Oceanography Center (Pushidrosal)
Tuesday, 05 July 2022Hosted by the Indonesian Naval Hydro-Oceanography Center (Pushidrosal), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) held its Hydrographic Services and Standards Committee Meeting (HSSC-14) from 16-19 May 2022 in Bali where the chairman of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), (Mr Graham Evans), was presented with a token of appreciation by the Indonesian Chief Hydrographer Vice Admiral Nurhidayat. The personalised plaque was granted to ICPC due to its support and advice related to submarine cable route planning, installation, and maintenance best practices. On behalf of the global organisation that is dedicated to the sharing of information for the common interest of all seabed users, the plaque was graciously accepted by the ICPC.
ICPC advice and support had been provided at the request of Pushidrosal by way of an informative workshop that was led by Mr Evans from EGS Survey Group, and supported by Ms Geraldine Le Meur from SubCom, that was virtually-held on 4 March 2022. The workshop focused on enquiries raised by Pushidrosal and Indonesian Government stakeholders that were related to submarine cable industry best practices for both telecommunications and power cables within the context of both Indonesia’s development of submarine cable infrastructure to support the developing digital economy across the vast Indonesian Archipelago. How best practices aligned with the importance of Indonesian Marine Spatial Planning objectives were also discussed.
Earlier this year, the ICPC published ‘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. The full document may be found here.
Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for 2022 Awarded to Sophie Ryan
Thursday, 26 May 2022Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy (Rhodes Academy) sponsor the Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. Applicants to, and graduates of, the Rhodes Academy are eligible to compete for the award, in a competition administered by the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore. With the award, the ICPC and the Rhodes Academy seek to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables (the infrastructure of the Internet) and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. The referees of the 2022 competition chose Sophie Ryan of Australia as the winner for her paper, ‘Submarine Cables and Belligerent Rights in Armed Conflict.’
Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Academy is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes, led by the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. After the COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellation of the Academy in 2020 and a virtual Academy in 2021, the Directors of the Academy are pleased to return to Rhodes in person for this year’s Academy. For more information about the Rhodes Academy and the writing competition, see https://marine.unh.edu/academics/rhodes-academy and https://cil.nus.edu.sg/publication/rhodes-academy-icpc-submarine-cables-writing-award/.
The Award. Each year, the winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to the Rhodes Academy, or for a Rhodes Academy graduate from a prior year, a cash award of GB £4,500. The winner will receive assistance from the Rhodes Academy in seeking publication of the winning paper and will also be invited to speak at the next ICPC Plenary meeting to be held in Madrid, Spain from 18th – 20th April 2023. The papers of all past winners have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
About the ICPC. The ICPC is the world’s premier submarine cable protection organisation. It was formed in 1958 to promote the protection of international 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 185 Members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments. For further information about the ICPC, see https://www.iscpc.org/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/icpc-ltd/.
ICPC Contact:
Kent Bressie, International Law Adviser, ICPC
+1 202 730 1337
kbressie@hwglaw.com
Rhodes Academy Contact:
Judy Ellis, Rhodes Academy Administrator
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire
judy.ellis@unh.edu
International Cable Protection Committee Hosts a Successful Virtual Plenary
Tuesday, 10 May 2022The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce the success of the 2022 ICPC Virtual Plenary that recently took place online from 26th – 27th April. Close to 300 ICPC Members registered to attend the event, along with 45 guest observers, and over 20 invited speakers, gathered online from around the globe for over two days to listen, learn, and discuss a diverse set of topics about the vital importance of submarine cables and their protection worldwide. From the opening presentation on maritime security from NATO to a Naval speech on marine spatial planning, and on to such topics as submarine cable permitting, fibre optic monitoring and ocean ecosystems, the Plenary remained fully engaged with its listeners and participants.
Newly elected ICPC Chairman, Mr Graham Evans commented: ‘Although the ICPC Executive Committee had to make the tough decision to hold the 2022 ICPC Plenary online due to travel restrictions for many of our ICPC Members, we felt it was in the best interest to host this year’s Plenary virtually. However, we had a great turnout with lively Member interactions, a wide array of presentations, and participation from government entities and those with an interest in the submarine cable community, including students attending as observers for research. We look forward to seeing you in-person next year.’
The ICPC is pleased to announce the 2023 ICPC Plenary will take place in Madrid, Spain from 18th – 20th April 2023. Stay tuned later this year for full details regarding the ‘Call for Papers’, venue details, and registration. If interested in learning more about the ICPC, its annual Plenary, or how to become a Member, please send all enquiries to secretariat@iscpc.org. For a perspective on the variety of subjects presented at the 2022 Plenary, the full programme can be viewed via the following link.
Deadline Extension for the 2022 Virtual ICPC Plenary Call for Papers: Friday, 4th February
Tuesday, 23 November 20212022 Virtual ICPC Plenary Theme: Installing, Operating and Maintaining Resilient Submarine Cable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Evolving Global Environment
The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce it now seeks presentation abstracts that speak to the conference’s wide-ranging theme addressing resilient submarine cable infrastructure. Recommended topics include, but are not limited to the following:
- Innovative cable protection methods that minimise impacts on the marine environment
- Ensuring network reliability against a background of continuing climate change
- Science as it is applied to submarine cable system design, routing, and protection
- Installer, operator, and government measures to enhance cable system security
- Cooperation with other seabed users and/or regulators to protect infrastructure, marine industries, and biodiversity
The International Cable Protection Committee Appoints Project Manager
Tuesday, 12 October 2021In May 2021, The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) launched a campaign to hire a UK-based Project Manager, and after a thorough review process of qualified candidates, the ICPC has selected Mr John Wrottesley to fill this new role and they are pleased to announce his contract with the organisation commenced on 14th September 2021. Mr Wrottesley joins the team from Red Penguin (an Associate Member company of the ICPC).
As Project Manager, Mr Wrottesley will coordinate and oversee the organisation’s sponsored projects and additional research initiatives as well as ICPC Recommendations (which are document guides to aid the submarine cable industry in promoting the highest goals of reliability and safety in the submarine cable environment). The new Project Manager will work under the oversight of the ICPC General Manager, Mr Ryan Wopschall, and will collaborate closely with the Secretariat, the Executive Committee, International Cable Law Adviser, Marine Environmental Adviser, and UN Observer Representative.
Mr Wrottesley has been working in the submarine cable industry for 13 years, primarily in permitting for cables relating to the telecommunications, energy (offshore wind and interconnectors) and oil and gas industries around the globe. He has been involved in submarine cable industry bodies for many years and was the Chairman of the Technical and Regulatory Subgroup within European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA). Presently, he is the Liaison Officer for ESCA in addition to his work for the ICPC.
When asked about his new appointment, Mr Wrottesley stated, ‘Having already being very familiar with the ICPC over the years, I am honoured to now be involved in the significant day-to-day activities of the ICPC and grateful to operate more closely on their achievements for the worldwide submarine cable community. I look forward to working with the ICPC General Manager, Secretariat, EC and Advisers, and contributing to the continued great work undertaken by the ICPC.’
International Cable Protection Committee Launches ‘Best Practices for Cable Protection and Resilience as Resource for Governments’
Tuesday, 13 July 2021The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce the launch of 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. The Best Practices are now available in both English [?] and Spanish [?] on the public section of ICPC’s web site.
The Best Practices first set forth a set of general principles to guide governments in cable protection and resilience, including the need to focus on statistically significant risks of cable damage, and the use of regulatory frameworks to enhance geographic diversity, promote the rule of law; and promote speedy infrastructure deployment and repair. The Best Practices then identify cable damage risks and other regulatory challenges—ranging from fishing and anchoring risks to spatial separation from other marine activities to cabotage—and make specific recommendations for governmental practices to reduce risk, promote connectivity, and improve regulation.
‘As the world’s preeminent cable protection organisation, ICPC has long promoted government best practices in workshops and consultations, but it had never codified its own thinking on these issues in a public document,’ said Kent Bressie, ICPC’s International Cable Law Adviser and the principal author of the Best Practices. ‘Now, when governments seek industry views on cable protection and resilience, we can share ICPC’s views in a practical and accessible guide.’
As with ICPC’s Recommendations, the Best Practices will be updated periodically to address emerging issues in industry and in the marine environment. They may be supplemented by annexes addressing particular issues in detail, such as with fish aggregation devices, for which ICPC’s FAD Working Group is developing more detailed best practices.
Forthcoming Webinar. To assist ICPC Members in understanding the Best Practices and how they might be used in discussions with governments, ICPC will host a forthcoming webinar.
2021 ICPC Plenary: Virtually Held Submarine Cable Event that Connected the Four Corners of the World
Thursday, 03 June 2021Devoted to the safeguarding of submarine telecommunications and power cables, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce the success of its first-ever virtual Plenary meeting. In a specially developed website setting designed to host both live and pre-recorded presentations from around the world, the organisation hosted more than 300 delegates and broadcasted over eight hours of live presentations and panel discussions across different time zones from 19-20 May 2021.
Under the theme, ‘Beyond the Global Pandemic—The Critical Role of Submarine Cables,’ the 2021 virtual Plenary was an opportunity to hear about emerging topics in the submarine cable industry as well as to provide a venue to learn from hydrographic survey companies, system installers, service providers, cable owners, and marine and environmental researchers. In-line with the ICPC’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the event concluded with a much-anticipated panel on the coordination between the submarine cable industry and deep seabed mining. Panellists included members of the ISA, seabed mining contractors, submarine cable owners and operations, and was moderated by ICPC Vice Chairman, Mr Graham Evans.
When asked about the event, ICPC General Manager Mr Ryan Wopschall commented, ‘With twelve live presentations over two days and with more than forty presentations from Members and invited speakers, the virtual Plenary meeting out-performed our expectations and was a great success. Although we could not meet in-person this year, the online platform gathered a substantial number of people together from around the world for lively discussion and knowledge sharing about the submarine cable industry’s most pertinent topics. The event was a fantastic touch-point for our industry during these challenging times.”
Also incorporated into the programme, ICPC Members had the opportunity to listen to ‘year in review’ presentations from the organisation’s International Cable Law Adviser, Marine Environmental Adviser and UN Observer Representative as well as hear from Member project experiences, Working Group reports and outreach activities. If you are a non-ICPC Member, and would like to learn more, visit the 2021 Plenary Highlights page to read about the specific topics that were presented. Later this year, the ICPC will be announcing its ‘Call for Papers’ for the 2022 Plenary to be held in-person in Madrid, Spain.
ICPC Sponsors 2021 Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Competition
Thursday, 11 March 2021Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) sponsors the Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. With the award, the ICPC seeks to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. In 2020, the selection jury chose Mr Yang Wenlan as the winner for his paper “Protecting Submarine Cables from Physical Damage under Investment Law.”
Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners (including ICPC representatives) about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes, led by the University of New Hampshire. The Rhodes Academy’s twenty-fifth session will convene virtually from 4-14 July 2021. Numerous students affiliated with ICPC Members have graduated from the Rhodes Academy. The ICPC is proud to support the Rhodes Academy. For more information about the Rhodes Academy (including application procedures), see https://marine.unh.edu/academics/rhodes-academy.
The Award. The award winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to a future Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, or for a graduate of the Rhodes Academy from a prior year, a cash award of GB £4,500. The winner will also be invited to speak at the ICPC Plenary meeting in 2022.
Eligibility and Process. The Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award is open to: any person aspiring to attend the Rhodes Academy (the candidate must meet the admissions requirements), or a Rhodes Academy Graduate from a prior year. Papers should be suitable for publication in a scholarly international law journal and must consist of 7,500 – 10,000 words (excluding footnotes). To register to compete for the award, interested candidates should send an abstract (no more than 300 words) and a short biography to the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore, lawtmd@nus.edu.sg, which administers the competition on behalf of ICPC and the Rhodes Academy. Papers must be submitted to CIL, also at lawtmd@nus.edu.sg, no later than 1 April 2021. Papers will be reviewed anonymously by the selection jury, consisting of three members designated by the Rhodes Academy and one by the ICPC.
ICPC Releases the Call for Papers for its 2021 Virtual Plenary - 19 and 20 May 2021.
Wednesday, 16 December 2020Beyond the Global Pandemic – The Critical Role of Submarine Cables will be the theme for the forthcoming 2021 first-ever virtual annual plenary meeting organised by the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) to be held from 19-20 May 2021.
Not only does the ICPC welcome participation from ICPC Member companies, but non-Members that have a vital interest in the protection of telecommunications and power cables worldwide, are also invited to submit a presentation abstract in response to the ‘Call for Papers’ that address the aforementioned theme. Recommended topics include, but are not limited to the following:
- Critical Infrastructure: New challenges in installing, maintaining, and protecting submarine cables during the global pandemic and in the post-pandemic era.
- Reliability and Security: How science, engineering, survey, and planning developments enhance the reliability of submarine cable systems. Securing critical international infrastructure by working with authorities, stakeholders, and other seabed users.
- Resilience: Protecting the interests of international telecommunications and power cable system users through collaboration, innovative design, and diversified routing.
- Sustainability: Advancing science, technology, law, manufacturing, installation, and repair so submarine cables remain neutral to benign in the marine environment.
The ICPC requests interested presenters to submit abstracts for proposed presentations no later than Friday, 19th February 2021. For enquiries, send an e-mail to: secretary@iscpc.org.
ICPC Publishes “Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment:” A Public Newsletter
Wednesday, 30 September 2020LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce its public launch of a bi-annual, marine-focused newsletter titled “Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment.” The publication—written by ICPC’s Marine Environmental Advisor (MEA), Dr Mike Clare—is a new and timely reference for all seabed users, the science community, and the general public who share the same vital goal as the ICPC—safeguarding submarine telecommunications and power cables worldwide. Exclusive to ICPC Members only, access to an historical archive of more than 200 issues of an “Environment Update” publication are available on-demand, but now the “Submarine Cable Protection and the Environment” publication is being made available twice a year to the industry and public.
ICPC General Manager Mr Ryan Wopschall stated, “Having Mike’s expertise on staff truly benefits the ICPC and its Members, but we also acknowledge his thorough research can benefit the broader submarine cable industry, other marine users and stakeholders, and the wider public. Mike has written articles that not only get readers to think about the importance of the marine environment in our local daily lives, but also provides insights into the sustainability and resiliency of global submarine cable infrastructure and its critical role in our world today.”
ICPC has always been committed to understanding through peer-reviewed research the relationship between the behaviour of external factors and human activities and how the submarine cable industry operates within the marine environment. This publication promotes a forward-thinking scientific research approach and considers current and historic topics of relevance to the marine environment.
International Cable Protection Committee Appoints New General Manager
Thursday, 30 July 2020LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—After a thorough selection process from candidates within the global and wide-ranging submarine telecommunications and power cable industries, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the world’s leading submarine cable protection organisation, announces the appointment of its new General Manager (GM), Mr Ryan Wopschall.
Active in the ICPC as a member-company representative and speaker since 2010, Mr Wopschall brings to the organisation deep knowledge and experience regarding protection of submarine cables, which provide more than 97 percent of the world’s Internet, data, and voice connectivity. With 14 years of experience in marine survey, cable route engineering, and project implementation, he has worked on numerous projects in over 20 countries. Mr Wopschall has presented many times at prominent industry conferences and holds a B.Sc. in Engineering Geology, plus a post-graduate certificate in Business Development and Management. He replaces Mr Keith Schofield who stepped down from the role on 1st July.
Commenting on his new appointment Mr Wopschall stated, ‘I am very excited to have been selected by the ICPC as the new GM and look forward to working with the Executive Committee (EC) and its Members and advisors. We are in evolving times and that gives the ICPC the challenge and opportunity to evolve as well. I look forward to listening to the valuable guidance of the Members as well as providing leadership and growth to this global organisation.’
In his role, Mr Wopschall will work closely with the EC, its legal and environmental advisors as well as lead the Secretariat team ensuring the ICPC’s goals and initiatives are carried out while maintaining the vision of the organisation and promoting the importance of safeguarding submarine cables worldwide.
ICPC Chair Malcolm Eccles, welcomed Mr Wopschall stating, ‘On behalf of the organisation, we are very pleased to have Ryan on board. Having been involved in previous ICPC initiatives and outreach in the past, plus a vast background in the submarine cable industry, he is a great asset to the ICPC and its membership.’
Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for 2020 awarded to Yang Wenlan
Thursday, 23 July 2020LYMINGTON, United Kingdom and CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia—Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy (Rhodes Academy) sponsor the Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. Applicants to, and graduates of, the Rhodes Academy are eligible to compete for the award. With the award, the ICPC and the Rhodes Academy seek to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables (the infrastructure of the Internet) and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. The referees of the 2020 competition chose Yang Wenlan of China as the winner for his paper, ‘Protecting Submarine Cables from Physical Damage under Investment Law.’
About Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes, led by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia (COLP). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rhodes Academy’s twenty-fifth session in 2020 was cancelled, but the ICPC and Rhodes Academy decided to proceed with the writing competition, with the organisational assistance of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore. For more information about the Rhodes Academy and the writing competition, visit: https://colp.virginia.edu/Rhodesacademy.
The Award. Each year, the winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to the Rhodes Academy, or for a Rhodes Academy graduate from a prior year, a cash award of £4,500. The winner will receive assistance from the Rhodes Academy in seeking publication of the winning paper and will also be invited to speak at the next ICPC Plenary meeting. The papers of all past winners have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
About the ICPC. The ICPC is the world’s premier submarine cable protection organisation. It was formed in 1958 to promote the protection of international 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 170 Members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments.
ICPC Call to Action - COVID-19. Informal Translation in the Japanese Language
Tuesday, 14 April 2020Informal Translation into Japanese. [?] The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) calls on governments and industry to facilitate and expedite the deployment, operation, and repair of submarine fibre optic cables during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect increasingly important broadband Internet connectivity and the governance, health, education, and commerce activities that depend on such connectivity.
ICPC Call to Action - COVID-19 Informal Translation in the Spanish Language
Tuesday, 14 April 2020El ICPC pide a los gobiernos y a la industria que faciliten y aceleren la instalación y reparación de cables submarinos durante la pandemia de COVID-19 a fin de proteger la conectividad a Internet y las comunicaciones críticas [?]
Call to Action to Protect Cables During COVID-19 Pandemic
Friday, 03 April 2020The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) calls on governments and industry to facilitate and expedite the deployment, operation, and repair of submarine fibre optic cables during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect increasingly important broadband Internet connectivity and the governance, health, education, and commerce activities that depend on such connectivity.
Read full statement below.
ICPC Calls on Governments and Industry to Facilitate and Expedite Submarine Cable Installation and Repair During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Order to Protect Internet Connectivity and Critical Communications
Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 188 KB
Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 188 KB
News Release: ICPC Calls on Governments and Industry to Facilitate and Expedite Submarine Cable Installation and Repair During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Order to Protect Internet Connectivity and Critical Communications
Friday, 03 April 2020LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) calls on governments and industry to facilitate and expedite the deployment, operation, and repair of submarine fibre optic cables during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect increasingly important broadband Internet connectivity and the governance, health, education, and commerce activities that depend on such connectivity.
Submarine cables are critical Internet infrastructure. Even before the pandemic started, submarine cables (not satellites) carried approximately 99% of the world’s Internet, voice, and data traffic, including backhaul of mobile network traffic and data for credit card and electronic payments. Governments have therefore been long treating submarine cables as critical infrastructure.
Continuing installation and repair during the pandemic are vital. Submarine cables have now assumed even greater importance for governments, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals and families by supporting electronic and online engagement that help minimise disease exposure and transmission, including:
- Communication of government policies and public health information for COVID-19
- Telework and online meetings for business and government agency personnel, particularly video conferencing
- Electronic commerce, for online purchases for sustenance, medicine, and critical supplies
- Tele-medicine for COVID-19 and other health issues
- Tele-education while school and university campuses remain closed
- Communications with family members and friends by voice, video, photos, and messages
- Entertainment to ease the stresses of home quarantine and self-isolation
Need for continuing cross-border operations. Installation and repair of submarine cables requires not only the continued manufacture of such cables, but also the continued movement of personnel, equipment, cable ships, survey ships, and guard/support vessels across borders and maritime zones and through ports to perform sophisticated installation and repair. Most of the world depends on foreign-flagged cable and survey ships with expert multi-national crews to install and maintain submarine cables.
Specific measures recommended. Governments and industry should therefore adopt and implement the following measures—which reflect national and International Maritime Organization (IMO) best practices—to facilitate submarine cable installation and repair while safeguarding public health.
- General measures
- Provide accreditation (credentialing if necessary) of, and access for, submarine cable industry personnel on land and on ships to ensure they are not unreasonably confined or detained
- Designate submarine cable manufacturing, installation, and repair, including related ship-based activities, as essential economic activities authorised to operate under even the most stringent shelter-in-place and border and port controls
- Designate submarine cable industry personnel, regardless of nationality—including manufacturing, seafarer, and marine personnel—and port personnel—as essential employees authorised to work and travel
- Permit importation, transport, and sale of otherwise unrestricted telecommunications network equipment, spare plant, and repair tools, including items stored in bonded warehouses
- Expedite licences and permits, and grant temporary waivers, to speed installation of new submarine cables and repairs of existing ones
- Continue to enforce cable protection laws and measures to minimise the risk of cable damage and disruption of communications in the first instance
- Access to ports and maritime zones
- Ensure that visiting cable ships, survey ships, and guard/support vessels continue to have access to berths in port, and that quarantine restrictions are not imposed on the ships themselves
- Suspend—or grant waivers of—cabotage restrictions on cable ships to permit time-sensitive installations and repairs without regard to the cable ship’s flag state
- Facilitation of crew changes and personnel access
- Exempt seafarers, marine personnel, and technical personnel from national travel or movement restrictions in order to facilitate their joining or leaving ships and their performance of land-based installation and repair work
- Authorise seafarers and marine personnel to disembark ships in port and transit through national territory, such as through an airport, for the purposes of crew changes and repatriation
- Use testing and screening measures and medical certifications for crew joining or leaving cable ships and personnel performing other land-based work
- Facilitate the use of dedicated transit/quarantine hotels and vehicles to house and transport crew joining or leaving cable ships or personnel performing other land-based work
- Facilitation of port access and operations
- Communicate COVID-19-related special requirements and pre-arrival information early and effectively to relevant stakeholders
- Empower customs, immigration, coast guard, and port authorities with sufficient decision-making authority and resources to clear and process loading and unloading of cable systems, spare plant, and vessel equipment and embarkation and disembarkation of crew, consistent with measures to protect personnel of such authorities and of crew
- Authorise continuing joining and leaving of pilots to ensure safe navigation of visiting cable ships
- Where possible, permit ship crews to transfer spare cable and components to/from depot storage facilities in lieu of local stevedores avoid the risk of ship’s crew being exposed to COVID-19
- Protection of health
- Waive where possible, port inspections and port visit requirements, in order to minimise transmission and exposure between shore and ship
- Promote the use of electronic records for ship-to-shore, administrative, and commercial interactions involving ports and ships in order to reduce COVID-19 exposure and transmission risks posed by document handling and interpersonal exchanges
- Provide information to personnel on basic protective measures against COVID-19
- Ensure expedited access to testing and public health resources in order to minimise the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in manufacturing facilities, in ports, and on cable ships
- Support use of lodgings in key port areas where crew can be quarantined to monitor their health and ensure they are COVID-19 free before joining a ship
- Provide personal protective gear, particularly masks and gloves, to personnel who interact with ship officers and crew, such as pilots and customs agents, and monitor and quarantine them as necessary if they show COVID-19 symptoms
- Require that these personnel periodically report their health status and any potential case of COVID-19 infection as early as possible
- Provide personnel with access to emergency medical treatment ashore in the event of medical emergencies
About the ICPC. The International Cable Protection Committee was formed in 1958 and its primary goal is to promote the safeguarding of international submarine cables against man-made and natural hazards. The organisation provides a forum for the exchange of technical, legal and environmental information about submarine cables and, with over 180 Members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments, it is the world’s premier submarine cable organisation.
The ICPC issues its 'Call for Papers' for the 2020 Plenary
Sunday, 10 November 2019'ICPC 2020 Vision: Reliability, Security, Resilience and Sustainability of vital international submarine cables'
The 2020 ICPC Plenary will take place in the Novotel Madrid Center in Spain from 28-30 April 2020. The ICPC asks interested presenters to submit abstracts for proposed presentations by
ICPC Participates in Roundtable on Tsunami Detection and Warning
Monday, 28 October 2019Organised by the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), the ICPC participated in the roundtable ‘Maritime Sector Strategies to Augment Tsunami Monitoring with Economic, Safety and Environmental Co-benefits’ at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on 22 August 2019. Representatives from the ICPC included the ICPC Vice Chair Graham Evans, ICPC International Cable Law Adviser (ICLA) Kent Bressie and ICPC Member representatives: Laurie Doyle (Edge Networks), Simon Webster (NEC Corporation), and Yue Meng-Fai (Singapore Telecommunications Limited).
The roundtable focused on the legal and commercial considerations for dual-purpose cables that will help encourage exploration of commercial opportunities and innovation while minimising legal and regulatory complications by discouraging any legal mandate to require sensors on commercial submarine telecommunications systems.
In addition, the roundtable concentrated on three sectoral opportunities for gathering marine environmental data (one panel devoted to each sector, a panel on sustainable development and one concluding ‘co-benefits’ panel) sensors on commercial shipping vessels; tide gauges on offshore oil and gas platforms; and dual-purpose telecom-marine data cables. Adding to the event, the head of Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency gave a presentation that demonstrated the near-field tsunami problems in Indonesia, differences between Indonesian tsunamis and those elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean region, the ineffectiveness of a buoy warning solution, as well as the trade-off between accuracy and speed of warning.
Additional presentations included one from Professor Robert Beckman, (from the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore), on the UNCLOS framework applicable to shipping, oil and gas, submarine cables, and marine scientific research and Ocean Specialist Inc. addressed the ‘co-benefits’ of industry partnering with governments on tsunami detection and warning activities.
On 23 August 2019, a sub-group of roundtable participants met to discuss the event’s outcome and consider the ICPC’s next steps.
Article: “Internet Infrastructure: Where foreign affairs and the climate crisis intersect”
Friday, 06 September 2019ICPC Vice Chairman, Graham Evans and ICPC Member organisation, XSite Modular contributed to the following article written by Nicole Starosielski, titled: ‘Internet Infrastructure: Where foreign affairs and the climate crisis intersect.’ The article was first published with OpenCanada.org on 30 July 2019.
When most people think about struggles over the global internet, platforms and content come to mind: the $5 billion fine levied at Facebook for privacy violations. Antitrust law and Google and Amazon’s corporate monopolies. The discrimination of artificial intelligence. The politics of content moderation and data governance.
Occasionally, hardware surfaces, as in the case of Australian, Japanese and US bans on Chinese telecom manufacturers. More often, infrastructure is relegated to the background. The expansive web of cables, data centres, internet exchanges, cloud services and content delivery networks are invisible to most users. As a result, they are less often a target of governance.
This is especially true for the most international of all internet infrastructure: undersea cables. Cable systems are the backbone of the global internet. They carry almost all internet traffic across continents and underneath oceans. They facilitate transactions between financial centres. They are the means by which air transportation and shipping is coordinated. And they transport the bulk of all messages between people around the world. Undersea cables are a primary medium of foreign relations.
Cables have supported global interconnection — and re-shaped global trade, relationships and policies — since the nineteenth century. But today the sheer amount of digital information circulated means that nations are highly dependent on cables. When the Polynesian islands that make up Tonga were subject to a set of cable breaks this past January, it disrupted banking, tourism, transportation and business. Being severed from the cable network can produce a rift in a nation’s social and economic stability. If climate change threatens the cable network, it could transform all international relations.
The internet under water
As National Geographic reported last year in “The Internet is Drowning,” climate change poses a threat to the internet’s infrastructure. At first, undersea cables might seem an exception, offering a secure means of communication in rising waters. But cables, like so many other communications systems, are vulnerable to environmental changes and extreme weather.
Cables are susceptible both along their winding subsea routes and at their coastal landing points. Many cable stations, the places where systems terminate after coming ashore, were built before climate change was a consideration in builders’ minds. Stations are often located near the coast, sometimes just a short walk from the beach. Some extend underground well below sea level in Cold War-style bunkers. Some exist in remote areas, where human access could become impossible in extreme weather. Amy Marks of XSite Modular, a company that manufactures telecommunications infrastructure, argues that changing weather patterns are “a real threat for cable landing stations.”
But the undersea network won’t be the first casualty of climate change, by far. Compared to other built architectures, cable landing stations are some of the most secure locations in the internet’s infrastructure. There’s surveillance. There are fences and concrete walls. There are backup generators and batteries in case the power goes out. In some cases, cable stations have become places of refuge for employees when local power and water shut off. In any given community, the cable station is likely to be one of the safest places to be. Marks recounts that in 2018 an XSite Modular cable station in Tinian, near Guam, even made it through a direct hit by a Category 5 super typhoon without any damage.
But even these hardened infrastructures — with their backup generators and insulated systems — eventually require people and power to function. The global network cannot be sustained without the grid. As the environment changes, the grid fails and people are subject to floods and fires, the cable station, too, will be exposed to the elements. In the process, so will the international connections that it supports.
Escaping to outer space?
Cables still carry almost all internet traffic, but there’s been some recent hype about the return of satellite. SpaceX’s Elon Musk plans to launch close to 12,000 internet-delivering satellites. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is a broadband system with over 3,000 satellites. OneWeb promises to finally give everyone access to reliable, high-speed internet. These projects are the beginning of an internet space race, all taking place in the low-Earth orbit, less than 2,000 km above the planet’s surface.
Although these satellites extend service to locations that would be difficult, if not impossible, to reach by undersea cables, they do not approach the amount of capacity cables provide. They are not an alternative internet backbone. At the recent SubOptic conference, Tim Stronge and Alan Mauldin of the research firm Telegeography conducted an analysis of the competition. Even with the many satellites planned, they showed that space systems are unlikely to match — or even come close to — the undersea network. For now, and in the future, the global economy, international relations and digital exchanges will all remain tied to a communications system that rests on the ocean floor and which is subject to changes in terrestrial and oceanic conditions.
Securing the system
The cable industry is aware of climate change — and many people have started researching ways to make the system greener. These include decreasing cables’ power consumption, planning for solar and wind power, and reducing the energy use of massive cable laying ships. There are even science cables deployed as a means of tracking ocean conditions and, by extension, the effects of climate change. Cable owners have also begun to think about protecting networks themselves from climate change.
Historically, cable protection has been driven by the telecommunications industry rather than governments, even though many governments have declared cables “critical infrastructure.” Cables have generally benefitted both from their relative invisibility to policymakers and from the freedoms granted to them under the Law of the Sea. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the organization dedicated to protecting the cable system, has tackled a growing wave of new threats — and not just climate change. There have been conflicts with the expanding array of other seabed users, from offshore energy operators to deep-sea miners.
The acceleration of global shipping means that more boats can drop anchor on cables in shallow landing zones. The disruption of cables by anchors, which occurs regularly, remains difficult to prevent, although redundancy in the overall system keeps these disruptions from being felt.
The ICPC, using peer-reviewed, evidence-based data, has also identified a number of potential climate change related threats, beyond the obvious impacts on coastal infrastructure. Laying cables depends on a stable sea. As chairman of the ICPC Graham Evans describes, “more vigorous sea conditions will influence cable laying and maintenance operations.” Greater instability in the seabed, whether caused by stronger storms or coastal flooding, could also disrupt networks. Human activities are changing with the climate, and people might begin fishing and anchoring in previously protected cable zones.
At the same time such threats have increased, governments have also begun to assert sovereignty more strongly over (and through) network infrastructure. These range from Russia’s disconnection test, to intentional internet blackouts (for example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, among others), to the splitting of Yemen’s internet, to establishing internet exchanges to keep data local. Internet infrastructure is not only the medium of global interconnection, it is also a means of asserting national interests.
Even as governments attempt to influence and stake a claim over the internet, they rarely perceive the complexity of the threats that might undermine it, especially the threat of climate change to cable infrastructure. There is little coordinated effort among governments to shore up the ICPC’s efforts or plan for the security of the system as a whole. As a result, the vulnerability of cables to climate change and other risks are increasingly of concern to states as well.
ICPC Congratulates ISA on the 25th Anniversary of Its Establishment
Friday, 26 July 2019LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the world’s preeminent organisation devoted to protection of submarine cables, offered its congratulations to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on the 25th anniversary of its founding. Although it does not regulate submarine cables, the ISA plays a key role in ocean governance as the regulator and developer of deep seabed mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), an activity that must be coordinated with submarine cables.
Both the ICPC and the ISA depend on the oceans law framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—specifically, the ICPC for high-seas freedoms to install and repair submarine cables and the ISA for its existence and framework for developing deep seabed mining.
In a letter to ISA Secretary-General Mr Michael Lodge, ICPC’s leadership expressed the following: ‘We congratulate you, the Secretariat staff, and leaders of the Authority’s other organs for creating a robust and expert institution devoted to the development of mineral resources in the deep ocean with a minimum of environmental harm, and one open to engagement with other stakeholders. Submarine cables and seabed mining—two of the principal industries operating in the deep ocean—must continue to coordinate and cooperate to deliver their respective benefits to the world’s peoples.’
The ICPC and ISA concluded a memorandum of understanding in 2010 to further cooperation between the two organisations and their associated industries. ICPC delegations regularly attend ISA annual sessions in Kingston, Jamaica, where the ISA is headquartered, and ISA representatives have also attended ICPC Plenary meetings. In October 2018, the ICPC and ISA jointly sponsored a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand to develop practical tools for coordinating between submarine cable operators and mining contractors.
2019 ICPC Plenary: History Made in San Diego, California
Thursday, 06 June 2019LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—Under the theme ‘Critical Infrastructure across the Oceans—protecting submarine cables and the marine environment,’ the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) held its largest Plenary meeting in the organisation’s history with a diverse submarine cables and related industry audience of about 150 delegates from 14-16 May 2019 in San Diego, California USA.
The annual ICPC Plenary was an excellent opportunity to engage with submarine cable owners, suppliers, installers, surveyors, academics and service providers regarding the planning, installation, operation, protection and maintenance of submarine telecommunications and power cables worldwide.
Day 1 included two presentations focused on offshore wind energy and its interaction with other seabed users. Throughout the day, presentations ranged from submarine cable security, repair times, natural hazards, cable burial and growing concerns about deep seabed mining with the potential to harm existing submarine cable networks. Presentations covering the ongoing Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) negotiations were followed by a lively question and answer session. Day 2 covered topics such as armour wire protection for submarine cables, distributed fibre sensing, marine maintenance and submarine cable law. Day 3 included insightful presentations discussing the protection of marine cultural heritage and natural resources, enhancing network resilience and the coexistence of offshore energy and submarine cables. Towards the end of day, the winner of the ICPC-sponsored 2018 Rhodes Academy submarine cables writing contest, presented: “Protection of Submarine Cables against Acts of Terrorism.”
Newly elected ICPC Chairman, Malcom Eccles of Basslink reacted: ‘This year’s Plenary was an outstanding event. The agenda was full of diverse subject matter from distinguished invited speakers and experts from ICPC Member organisations. I am very proud to be part of a group of individuals who all want the same thing—the protection of submarine cables worldwide from both man-made and natural hazards.”
The 2019 Plenary was also a place to recognise the outgoing ICPC Marine Environmental Adviser, Professor Lionel Carter for his 16 years of outstanding service to the submarine cable community. After a standing ovation from the delegation, Lionel ‘passed the baton’ to newly appointed Dr Michael Clare (National Oceanography Centre Southampton) who took up the role on 1 June 2019. During the Plenary, Dr Clare also presented: “New direct measurements of powerful seafloor hazards provide insights for cable routing and design.”
If you were unable to attend the 2019 ICPC Plenary, please visit the 2019 Plenary Highlights page. If interested in participating in next year’s ICPC Plenary, to be held in Spain, be sure to submit an abstract in response to the ICPC Plenary Call for Papers that will be issued later this year.
The 2020 ICPC Plenary will take place in Madrid, Spain from 28-30 April in the Novotel Madrid Center hotel.
ICLA Update: Malaysia Exempts Cable Ships Conducting Repairs from Cabotage Restrictions (17 April 2019)
Thursday, 18 April 2019Malaysia’s Minister of Transport has formally exempted cable ships conducting repairs in Malaysian waters from cabotage restrictions under Malaysia’s Merchant Shipping Ordinance (1952). Absent this relief, cable owners and maintenance authorities would be required to use a Malaysian-flagged ship for such repairs. The ICPC welcomes this development, for which it and its members have advocated directly and within ASEAN. Malaysia’s action runs counter to the regional trend of more burdensome cabotage restrictions. For further information and context, please see the Transport Minister’s order [?] and related news articles [?].
The ICPC again sponsors Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award
Thursday, 14 March 2019Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) sponsors the Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. With the award, the ICPC seeks to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. In 2018, the selection jury chose Ms. Liao Xuexia of China as the winner for her paper titled: “Protection of Submarine Cables against Acts of Terrorism.”
Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners (including ICPC representatives) about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument—the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes and led by the University of Virginia. The Rhodes Academy’s twenty-fourth session will convene from 30 June to 19 July 2019, in Rhodes, Greece. Numerous students affiliated with ICPC Members have graduated from the Rhodes Academy and the ICPC is proud to support the program. For more information about the Rhodes Academy (including application procedures), visit: https://colp.virginia.edu/Rhodesacademy.
The Award. The award winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to the 2019 Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, or for a graduate of the Rhodes Academy from a prior year, the winning recipient will receive a cash award of £4,500. The winner will also be invited to speak at the ICPC Plenary meeting in 2020.
Eligibility and Process. The Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award is open to any person aspiring to attend the Rhodes Academy (the candidate must meet the admissions requirements) or a Rhodes Academy Graduate from a prior year. Papers should be suitable for publication in a scholarly international law journal and must consist of 7,500 – 10,000 words (excluding footnotes). To register to compete for the award, interested candidates should send an abstract (no more than 300 words) and a short biography to the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore, lawtmd@nus.edu.sg, which administers the competition on behalf of ICPC and the Rhodes Academy. Papers must be submitted to CIL via: lawtmd@nus.edu.sg no later than 1 April 2019. Papers will be reviewed anonymously by the selection jury, consisting of two members designated by the Rhodes Academy and one by the ICPC. The Jury will announce the award winner by 1 May 2019.
The ICPC Welcomes Your Participation at Its 2019 Plenary: Call for Papers
Wednesday, 20 February 2019Extended Abstract Submission Date: 8 March 2019
Every year the ICPC Plenary attracts a global and industry-specific audience to consider the protection of submarine cables—the infrastructure of the Internet. Participation provides an excellent opportunity to engage with submarine cable owners, suppliers, installers, surveyors, academics and service providers regarding the planning, installation, operation, protection and maintenance of submarine cables.
The 2019 ICPC Plenary will take place in the Courtyard Liberty Station Hotel in San Diego, California USA from 14-16 May 2019. The ICPC asks interested presenters to submit abstracts for proposed presentations no later than Friday, 8 March 2019. The ICPC welcomes abstracts from ICPC Members and other interested parties.
ICPC’s three-day conference offers participants the opportunities to enhance their industry knowledge for networking with colleagues and customers as well as meeting with exhibitors whom will be showcasing their products and services. Delegates will find an agenda full of pertinent presentations, round tables and interviews and the ICPC welcomes the opportunity for the industry to make the first step in reserving your place at the ICPC’s annual event by submitting a presentation abstract in response to the Call for Papers.
The theme for the 2019 Plenary is ‘Critical Infrastructure across the Oceans—protecting submarine cables and the marine environment.’ The ICPC suggests the following presentation topics, but abstracts on additional relevant topics are also welcome:
- The future of submarine cable protection—news and developments
- International power cables—growth and challenges
- Expanding the cable network and protecting the world’s oceans
- Innovative and challenging cable routes
- Technology for submarine cable security and resilience
- Operation and maintenance trends
- Law, policy and international cables
- Sharing the seabed with competing uses
International Cable Protection Committee celebrates the 60th anniversary of its first submarine cable protection initiatives
Monday, 26 November 2018After six decades, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) continues to fulfil its mission by advancing submarine cable protection worldwide. Today, marks the 60th anniversary of the ICPC’s first Plenary held on 26 November 1958.
In the mid-1950’s, a group of submarine cable systems operators formed The Cable Damage Committee (CDC). At the inception of TAT-1, (the first transatlantic coaxial telephone cable system), an international committee was conceived. The TAT-1 system used the unidirectional flexible repeater where two cables were needed to make a transmission circuit. Because two submarine cables were needed to achieve bi-directional communication, TAT-1 was twice as vulnerable to faults via ships’ anchoring or commercial fishing. At CDC’s inception, eleven Member organisations belonged to the group. Today, the ICPC has grown to over 175 Member organisations with Membership open to governments, ship operators, system suppliers, survey operators and “Associate” Members.
Brief history of the ICPC:
The inaugural CDC Plenary meeting was chaired in London on 26 November 1958 with an agenda focused on cable damage by beam trawlers in the North Atlantic and North Sea, charting of cables, and acting as a liaison with the thriving fishing industry—topics that remain on the agenda today. The CDC continued to meet in London until its fifth and last Plenary in 1967 and in that year, the CDC Members decided to change the organisation’s name to the International Cable Protection Committee to better emphasise submarine cable protection rather than submarine cable damage. The first Plenary under the new name was held in Paris, 1968.
Early-year highlights:
- 1972: ICPC addressed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for the first time and continued to do so until 1982 when the international treaty was ratified by most nations and signed into law.
- 1973: ICPC introduced its first Recommendation (a guide promoting the highest goals of reliability and safety in the submarine cable environment) titled: ‘The recovery of out of service cables.’ Currently, the ICPC has 17 ICPC Recommendations.
- 1973: ICPC produced its first film ‘The Catch That Nobody Wants.’ Since then, the ICPC has produced three more educational films.
- 1980: British Telecom International created the first draft crossing agreement. Later in 1998, ICPC produced the Recommendation titled: ‘Criteria to be Applied to Proposed Crossings of Submarine Cables and/or Pipelines.’
Today and beyond:
The ICPC has accomplished much throughout the years including: educational industry videos and published monographs, international joint workshops and an inaugural webinar. The ICPC continues to support peer-reviewed scientific research, publish submarine cable data, engage with the wider community as well as participate in UN Assembly meetings. By working cooperatively with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy and SubOptic, ICPC will always promote “sharing the seabed in harmony with others.” Also this year, the ICPC’s General Manager was interviewed on the flagship BBC World Service ‘Newshour’ programme, and the end of the segment, the interviewer signed off stating: ‘The International Cable Protection Committee – who ever knew there was such a thing!’ – apparently an increasing number of people around the world now appreciate the significance of submarine cables in promoting and protecting both national and global economies and international trade.
ICPC Seeks Marine Environmental Advisor (MEA)
Thursday, 25 October 2018ICPC’s current Marine Environmental Advisor (Prof. Lionel Carter) will relinquish his formal role in June 2019 after a long, distinguished and successful period of service. For that reason, ICPC is seeking to interview suitable candidates for the post of Marine Environmental Advisor to participate in a period of transition and then take up the role from July 2019.
ICPC is largely volunteer-led, and with a modest honorarium, the role of MEA remains vital in protecting the ICPC’s excellent reputation for sound scholarship and peer-reviewed research (as well as communicating these issues effectively) concerning the protection of vital submarine cables within the global man-made and natural ecosystem. It offers the post-holder an opportunity to make a true difference in relation to the understanding of environmental and socio-economic matters related to the global submarine telecommunication and power cable network that is part of the environment, and which powers the modern economy.
Please carefully read the documents below and kindly direct them towards potential candidates who may be equipped to serve as the ICPC’s next Marine Environmental Advisor. Applications will be considered and screened by a special multi-disciplinary panel in the ICPC. At the discretion of the panel, suitable candidates may be invited to interview. Please pass this message along to suitable academics/candidates who you feel could take on the role as well.
For enquiries, send an e-mail to: general.manager@iscpc.org.
ICPC Plenary 2019
Friday, 15 June 2018ICPC Plenary 2019 will take place at the Courtyard Liberty Station Hotel in San Diego, California USA from 14-16 May 2019.
Theme: Critical Infrastructure Across the Oceans – protecting submarine cables and the marine environment
On-Demand Webinar: A message from the ICPC
Friday, 01 June 2018If you did not have the opportunity to register for ICPC’s inaugural webinar: “Cables and the Marine Environment - From Ocean to Cloud” hosted by ICPC’s Marine Environmental Advisor, it is now available ‘on-demand’ via the following link: https://www.iscpc.org/webinar/.
If you have already registered but was not able to attend, please select ‘Already Registered?’ via the following link https://www.iscpc.org/webinar/ and you will be prompted to enter your e-mail address to view the webinar.
In this webinar, Lionel Carter presents and addresses questions from attendees in a hour-long insightful session.
Submarine fibre-optic cables underpin the digital revolution by providing a safe, cost effective means of moving vast amounts of data around the globe at the speed of light. Cables are thus of vital social and economic importance – fact long recognised by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With that thought in mind, and given the heightened interest in environmental protection, this webinar delves into cables and their interaction with the marine environment. The nature of cables, their effect on the seabed, response to natural hazards and resilience in an increasingly busy ocean, are all covered in this well-illustrated and entertaining talk.
For any enquiries e-mail: secretariat@iscpc.org.
Subsea Cable Community Gains Voice in the United Nations
Thursday, 17 May 2018The ICPC appoints its own UN Observer Representative and now the organisation has been awarded UN Consultative Status
LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is now in consultative status with the United Nations (UN). The grant of the status was recommended by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committee of the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and approved by ECOSOC at its coordination and management meeting that took place from 16-18 April 2018.
The ICPC Marks its Diamond Jubilee Plenary by Addressing Three Future Challenges for Subsea Cables
Thursday, 26 April 2018LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) celebrated its 60th anniversary Plenary meeting by highlighting the three themes it is addressing to ensure that subsea cables continue to provide reliable long-term socioeconomic benefits to global communities.
The ICPC Marks its Diamond Jubilee Plenary by Addressing Three Future Challenges for Subsea Cables
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 214 KB
ICPC Appoints New International Law Adviser
Thursday, 01 March 2018LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—On 1 March 2018, Mr. Kent Bressie becomes the new International Cable Law Adviser (ICLA) for the prominent organisation, International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). Kent replaces Doug Burnett who left the role in late 2017 to accept a U.S. Government appointment.
2018 ICPC Plenary Call for Papers: Extended Date for Submission of Abstracts
Tuesday, 02 January 2018The opportunity to submit an abstract for the 2018 ICPC Diamond Jubilee Plenary has been extended to 5 February 2018.
News Release: 2018 ICPC Diamond Jubilee Plenary: Abstract Submission Date Extended to 5 February
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 228 KB
ICPC returns to Cape Town to hold its 2018 Diamond Jubilee Plenary
Friday, 06 October 2017LYMINGTON, United Kingdom— In October 1974, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) held its 13th Plenary in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2018, the Plenary will return to the coastal city for its upcoming session as well as celebrate 60 years of heritage since its incorporation in 1958.
ICPC returns to Cape Town to hold its 2018 Diamond Jubilee Plenary
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 272 KB
Call for Papers: The 2018 ICPC Diamond Jubilee Plenary
Friday, 29 September 2017The ICPC announces its Call for Papers for the 2018 Diamond Jubilee Plenary to be held in the Westin Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa, from 10 – 12 April 2018.
The event's theme is “Where Oceans Meet Cables - A global voice for the submarine cable community” and the deadline for abstracts is 5 January 2018.
Monday 4 September 2017: Multiple Cable Breaks off Hong Kong due to Typhoon Action
Tuesday, 05 September 2017The ICPC is aware of multiple cable failures in the region of Hong Kong that are affecting the speed of Internet communications on some routes. The ICPC does not have any operational responsibility for the international submarine cable network, therefore its officers do not have any knowledge of the cause of this problem or what is being done to rectify it.
The primary purpose of the ICPC is to help its members to improve the security of their cables by providing a private forum in which relevant technical, legal and environmental information can be exchanged. In the aftermath of multiple cable failures, the ICPC will routinely consult its members after repair operations have been completed to see what lessons can be learned. Sometimes this exercise results in a Press Release from the ICPC, as happened following the Hengchun Earthquake on 26 December 2006. The Press Release on the Hengchun Earthquake can be found here [?]. Background information on submarine cables can be found here. The About Submarine Telecommunications Cables [?] presentation is particularly recommended. Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.
The Latest Insights into Submarine Cables and Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction
Friday, 30 June 2017LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—There is much anticipation and anxiety in the air at the United Nations in New York City, USA this July. Many observers understand that a potentially very significant change in the international law regarding oceans looms ahead. The forthcoming PrepCom 4 meeting, held at the UN headquarters, will review many complex issues associated with activities on the high seas beyond national jurisdiction. Issues include both scientific and legal aspects arising under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS)—one of the world’s most successful pieces of international legislation.
The Latest Insights into Submarine Cables and Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 410 KB
ICPC Issues a New Recommendation on Submarine Cable Operations and Deep Seabed Mining
Friday, 23 June 2017LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) has issued its much-awaited Recommendation No. 17 titled: Submarine Cable Operations in Deep Seabed Mining Concessions Designated by the International Seabed Authority. The Recommendation is now publicly available upon request via: secretary@iscpc.org.
ICPC Issues a New Recommendation on Submarine Cable Operations and Deep Seabed Mining
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 456 KB
The undersea cable community convenes in Montevideo to celebrate ICPC’s triumphant 50th Plenary Session
Tuesday, 23 May 2017LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—All good times eventually come to an end, and the 50th International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) Plenary session that was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 25-27 April 2017 was no exception.
ICPC Members from around the globe contributed to a successful annual Plenary with the theme of unmissable insights and challenges related to submarine cable planning, installation, protection, and maintenance.
The undersea cable community convenes in Montevideo to celebrate ICPC’s triumphant 50th Plenary Session
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 300 KB
The Other Side of Communication: Guardians of Global Connectivity
Monday, 24 April 2017Ryan Wopschall (until 2016, a member of the Executive Committee of the ICPC) discusses the technology and infrastructure that is integral to present day connectivity and communication: without submarine fiber optic cables, the world would be a very different, and disconnected place. He examines the key actors and innovations that have brought the technology to where it is today, and the international regimes that have been tasked with its protection.
Source: Fletcher Forum of World Affairs Volume 41:1; Winter 2017.
The Other Side of Communication: Guardians of Global Connectivity
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 6.44 MB
2017 ICPC Plenary: 25-27 April
Tuesday, 24 January 2017ICPC's 50th Plenary was held in Montevideo, Uruguay from 25-27 April 2017 in the Radisson Montevideo Hotel. The event's theme was "Unmissable insights and challenges in submarine cable planning, installation, protection and maintenance."
Environmental impact of Basslink subsea power cable is minor and temporary
Thursday, 22 December 2016LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—A recently published study of the 290 km-long Basslink power cable shows that its impact on the seabed and associated organisms is "transient and minor".
Basslink plays a key role in the distribution of power between the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania. To protect this infrastructure, the cable was placed in a trench cut into the seabed. However, near Tasmania the cable was placed in an iron pipe conduit in order to safely pass over a 500 m-wide zone of rocky reef and rubble.
Environmental impact of Basslink subsea power cable is minor and temporary
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 339 KB
Submarine Cables and BBNJ: ICPC publishes white paper and presents to the United Nations
Monday, 12 September 2016LYMINGTON, United Kingdom— Submarine Cables and marine Biological Diversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) was the topic of discussion on Monday, 29 August 2016 during a well-attended side event held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) presented on the organisation’s role within the ocean community and highlighted its newly published and informative white paper on the subject of submarine cables and BBNJ.
Submarine Cables and BBNJ: ICPC publishes white paper and presents to the United Nations
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 1.08 MB
ICPC publishes white paper: "Submarine Cables and BBNJ"
Friday, 02 September 2016Preparatory Committee established by General Assembly resolution 69/292: Development of an internationally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
ICPC Call for Papers: Abstracts due 9 January 2017
Wednesday, 31 August 2016The ICPC announces the abstract deadline for the Call for Papers has been extended to 9 January 2017. The theme for the 2017 ICPC Plenary will be: Unmissable insights and challenges in submarine cable planning, installation, protection and maintenance.
ICPC reflects upon the start of the Global Cable Communications Revolution—150 Years Ago today
Wednesday, 27 July 2016LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—27 July 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the laying of the first, fully operational submarine cable to span an ocean. Linking Ireland and Newfoundland, the Atlantic cable was symbolically the start of a global communications revolution that continues today. Modern submarine fibre-optic cables—which are the direct descendants of the 1866 telegraphic cable—now account for over 95% of all trans-oceanic communications and underpin the Internet. This latest development has profoundly changed society and economies.
ICPC reflects upon the start of the Global Cable Communications Revolution—150 Years Ago today
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 627 KB
First Ever International Workshop on HVDC Power Cables in the Context of International Submarine Cables and Pipelines and the ABNJ
Tuesday, 03 May 2016On 7-8 April 2016, in Ankara, Turkey, an important academic milestone was reached when High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables in the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) or high seas proper were studied by a blue ribbon team of international legal scholars, diplomats, environmental scientists, and industry experts. This study was a part of the DEHUKAM International Workshop 2016 “Legal Status of Submarine Cables, Pipelines and ABNJ”, the inaugural workshop by the Research Center of the Sea and Maritime Law of Ankara University (DEHUKAM). The workshop was held jointly by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy (COLP) of the University of Virginia, the Center for International Law (CIL), National University of Singapore, the University of Bergen in Norway, and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). State participation included representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Iceland. Distinguished participants from the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea included the President Judge Vladimir Viadimirovich Golitsyn (Russian Federation), Vice-President Judge Boulalem Bouguetaia (Algeria), and Judge Markiyan Kulyk (Ukraine).
First Ever International Workshop on HVDC Power Cables in the Context of International Submarine Cables and Pipelines and the ABNJ
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 391 KB
The “Voice of the Global Subsea Cable Critical Infrastructure” resonates in Hamburg at the 2016 ICPC Plenary
Monday, 02 May 2016LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The Case for Cables– Protecting and Enhancing the Global Environment with Power and Communications, was the central theme to the successful and well-attended International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) Plenary meeting which was held in Hamburg, Germany from 12-14 April. With 63 Member organisations in attendance and representing 29 countries, the 49th annual ICPC Plenary gathered together influential people from the undersea cable industry to convene and exchange ideas. The success of the 2016 ICPC Plenary is largely attributed to all its Members—from every sector of the industry—joining together, being heard, and cementing the ICPC in its status as the industry’s international “voice” for the protection of undersea telecommunication and power cables.
The “Voice of the Global Subsea Cable Critical Infrastructure” resonates in Hamburg at the 2016 ICPC Plenary
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 137 KB
ICPC comments on submarine cable security around the world
Thursday, 18 February 2016LYMINGTON, UK—Fibre optic submarine cable security is one key priority among cable owners, operators, and chartered vessels. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) represents member companies that own or operate about 98% of the world’s submarine cable systems as well as the cable ship companies laying and maintaining cables.
ICPC participates at Ghana Cable Awareness Workshop
Monday, 21 December 2015LYMINGTON, UK—On 26 November 2015 in Accra, Ghana, a pioneering Submarine Cable Awareness Workshop was held to bring together cross-sectoral national and international organisations with an interest in the seabed in Ghana’s national waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, with particular reference to pipelines and submarine cables. These cables are of vital social and economic importance internationally, as they underpin the Internet and over 98% of trans-oceanic communications and data transfer.
Inaugural workshop held in Indonesia with the ICPC and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs
Friday, 04 December 2015LYMINGTON, UK—On 18 November 2015 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a pioneering joint workshop was held by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) regarding submarine telecommunication cables in Indonesia. These cables are of vital social and economic importance as they underpin the Internet and over 98% of trans-oceanic communications and data transfer. Submarine cables are also a key component of Indonesia’s critical infrastructure as submarine cables provide the ideal means to connect the nation’s thousands of inhabited islands.
Inaugural workshop held in Indonesia with the ICPC and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 390 KB
The Royal Society of New Zealand awards Hutton Medal to ICPC’s Marine Environmental Advisor
Wednesday, 25 November 2015LYMINGTON, UK—Every year the Hutton Medal—an Earth, plant and animal sciences award—is granted by The Royal Society of New Zealand for outstanding work by a researcher and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is pleased to announce Prof. Lionel Carter has received this prestigious honour.
The Royal Society of New Zealand awards Hutton Medal to ICPC’s Marine Environmental Advisor
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 107 KB
Call for Papers for the 2016 ICPC Plenary from 12-14 April
Friday, 20 November 2015The theme for the 2016 ICPC Plenary will be: The Case for Submarine Cables: Protecting and enhancing the global environment with power and communications.
Sharks are not the Nemesis of the Internet—ICPC Findings
Thursday, 02 July 2015LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—Last August 2014, a rediscovered YouTube video of a shark biting a subsea cable caused a media storm. According to some commentators, the video signified that worldwide telecommunications were under attack by sharks because submarine fibre-optic cables are the backbone of the global Internet. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) has reviewed records of cable faults worldwide, and together with an assessment of the video, conclude that much of the media hype was incorrect. Essentially, sharks and other fish were responsible for less than 1% of all cable faults up to 2006. Since then, no such cable faults have been recorded.
The “voice of the undersea community” resonates in Hong Kong at the 2015 ICPC Plenary
Wednesday, 03 June 2015LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—Enhancing Submarine Cable Security and Co-operation in Balance with the Environment, was the central theme to the successful and well-attended International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) Plenary meeting which was held recently in Telegraph Bay, Hong Kong SAR.
The “voice of the undersea community” resonates in Hong Kong at the 2015 ICPC Plenary
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 133 KB
Submarine Cables and Deep Seabed Mining: A Successful and Foundational Workshop
Monday, 13 April 2015LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—In their inaugural workshop, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held a joint seminar: “Submarine Cables and Deep Seabed Mining—Advancing Common Interest and Addressing UNCLOS ‘Due Regard’ Obligations” from 10-11 March 2015 in the New York offices of Douglas Burnett, ICPC’s International Cable Legal Advisor.
Submarine Cables and Deep Seabed Mining: A Successful and Foundational Workshop
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 256 KB
2015 ICPC Plenary Supported by Key Industry Players
Monday, 13 April 2015LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) will be holding its 2015 Plenary over 28-30, April 2015 at Le Méridien Cyberport in Telegraph Bay, Hong Kong. With the central theme, Enhancing Submarine Cable Security and Co-operation in Balance with the Environment, the Plenary will provide a valuable meeting point for all sectors of the submarine cable industry to gather and exchange ideas in a region steeped in submarine cable history and rooted in 21st century technological development.
ICPC and SubOptic sign MoU to formalise mutual co-operation
Monday, 13 April 2015LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—The two premier global organisations representing the submarine cable communication industry—the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and SubOptic—have formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise their relationship and will be seeking to further co-ordinate their activities to the benefit of the submarine cable networks community as a whole.
Submarine Cables in the Sargasso Sea: Final Workshop Report Published
Tuesday, 20 January 2015The final workshop report, "Submarine Cables in the Sargasso Sea: Legal and Environmental Issues in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction," has been released by the co-sponsors: Sargasso Sea Commission, Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore (CIL), George Washington University Law School, and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). This report is the first ever multidisciplinary effort by scientists, the submarine cable industry, and government experts from Bermuda, the United Kingdom and the United States to study and report on environmental impacts of modern submarine fibre-optic telecommunications cables in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the high seas. This unique work was compiled from presentations, papers, and discussions at the workshop which was held on 23 October 2014 at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. The 49 page report highlights the value of collaborative work by 40 experts and participants working together in a candid exchange of data and views concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the ABNJ/high seas environment. A copy of the Full Report can be downloaded below.
The Last Monument to Britain’s Submarine Cable Industry
Tuesday, 23 December 2014Enderby House and Enderby Wharf was the Greenwich, UK base of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, who built most of the world’s early submarine cables and is the oldest continuously operating telecommunications factory in the world. In 1864 the factory manufactured the first successful trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. From then until 1975, the factory continued to make submarine telecommunications cable. The Enderby Group seeks to preserve Enderby House and the riverside cable handling gear as a museum dedicated to our industry. This article about the Enderby House project appears in the Newcomen Society Newsletter called "Links".
A Report from the 2nd Cable Protection and Awareness Workshop, West Africa
Monday, 08 December 2014For the 2014 event, 2nd Cable Protection and Awareness Workshop held in both Nigeria and Ghana, ICPC Member and operator Main One Cable Company led a week-long event in October informing local communities regarding the importance of undersea cables, specifically: identifying a cable’s location to avoid damage and ensure long-term protection.
A Report from the 2nd Cable Protection and Awareness Workshop
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 124 KB
2015 ICPC Plenary: Call for Papers
Monday, 08 December 2014The theme for the 2015 Plenary will be: "Enhancing Submarine Cable Security and Co-operation in Balance with the Environment."
Submarine Cables in the Sargasso Sea
Tuesday, 25 November 2014LYMINGTON, United Kingdom - On 23rd October 2014, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), together with the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore, George Washington University Law School and the Sargasso Sea Commission, co-sponsored a workshop titled Submarine Cables in the Sargasso Sea – Legal and Environmental Issues Beyond National Jurisdiction at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.
2015 ICPC Plenary Meeting
Wednesday, 12 November 2014The next Plenary will be held in Hong Kong, 28-30 April 2015 in Le Meridien Cyberport in Telegraph Bay.
Science paper published
Thursday, 18 September 2014New science paper on cable faults in the Strait of Luzon published in the US peer reviewed journal 'Oceanography'. Natural Hazards Page
Shark bites and cable faults
Thursday, 18 September 2014A YouTube video (August 2014) of a shark biting a submarine cable attracted considerable media attention. The type of the featured cable, its depth and location are unknown. But on the basis of available data, the International Cable Protection Committee notes that cable damage from such attacks is historically rare.
ICPC Appoints New GM
Tuesday, 01 July 2014As of July 1, 2014, Mr. Keith Schofield has been appointed General Manager of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC).
2014 ICPC Plenary Meeting in Dubai: 18-20 March - A Huge Success
Thursday, 03 April 2014Against a backdrop of rapidly changing natural and socio-economic environments, the International Cable Protection Committee held its 47th Plenary to discuss actual and potential impacts of such changes on submarine communication and power cable systems. Hosted in Dubai by E-marine, a major submarine cable solutions provider in the Middle East, the Plenary provided a forum for 120 delegates from 32 nations. 64 ICPC Members were represented by 99 of these delegates and their feedback indicates that this Plenary was a huge success.
The theme of the meeting - Managing Critical Infrastructure in a Changing Natural & Socio-Economic Environment - attracted experts from the cable industry, governments, legal profession and research organisations.
ICPC Plenary 2014 - Meeting a Challenging Future news release
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Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf) - 310 KB
Australia's Amendments to its Pioneering Cable Protection Legislation Recognise the Value of Government Partnership with the ICPC for Protecting Critical Submarine Cable Infrastructure.
Monday, 18 November 2013Australia's Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull's speech before the Australian Parliament on 14 November 2013 acknowledges the smooth partnership enjoyed by the Australian government and the ICPC in promoting sound, practical and effective government policies that are designed to enhance the protection of submarine cables.
Enhancing Submarine Cable Security
Thursday, 14 October 2010In October 2010, the ICPC announced that it has changed its rules to allow National Governments and companies that are key players in the submarine cable industry to be represented within its membership. The ICPC's objective in making this change is to foster improved cooperation between Government and Industry, which is deemed essential to enhance the security of submarine cables.
