The Economics and Benefits of Cable Magnetization

As the submarine cable industry has moved from copper to optical fibers for signal transmission, the cables have become increasingly smaller and the amount of ferromagnetic material in them has been drastically reduced. Many festooned cables are being constructed so that they contain no copper or other means for electrical signal transmission in them at all. These cables have become increasingly difficult to locate and follow underwater. While at the same time, the industry has been forced to move toward deeper depth of burial (below the seabed) and deeper overall cable burial (water depth) in order to protect these vital commerce-enabling pathways under the sea. The owners and regulators are also demanding proof positive positioning and depth verification at time of installation and during the life cycle. The net result of these circumstances has been an increase in installation times (and costs), an increase in repair times (and costs) and often noncompliance to project verification requirements.