Web-based Geographic Information Service Protects Underwater Cables and Pipelines from Shipping Damage

Today Infoterra launched AssetMonitor, a new submarine asset protection service aimed at helping to protect valuable underwater assets - such as electricity and telecoms cables and oil and gas pipelines - from accidental damage by anchors and fishing activity. The company is also pleased to announce that the Channel Islands Electricity Grid (CIEG), a joint venture between Guernsey Electricity and Jersey Electricity, has become the first organisation to deploy AssetMonitor, and will use it to protect the two 90,000 volt submarine cables that supply power and fibre optic communications from France to Jersey and onwards to Guernsey.Damage to undersea assets due to shipping is a significant global problem, resulting in interrupted services, expensive repairs and the uncertain availability of suitable repair vessels. Current trends show that incidences of submarine asset damage are likely to increase with the deployment of offshore wind farms and marine turbines. Infoterra's new web based AssetMonitor solution uses live shipping vessel positions and data from the shipboard Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcast system - in conjunction with Route Position Lists for undersea assets - to generate automatic warnings if an asset may be at risk due to shipping activity. Read More