An alarm system should detect sabotage of fuel pipelines and energy cables within the North Sea

• Rolf Schuttenhelm

  editor of Local weather and Vitality

TNO has discovered an answer. via a typical titledarkish fiber‘ – unused components of fiber optic cables – seismologists can decide up ship vibrations. As quickly as these ships come near such an undersea infrastructure, their navigational actions are detected.

The know-how just isn’t new, however the software is, says geophysicist and geophysicist Vincent Vandeweijer from TNO. “We use these darkish fibers, amongst different issues, to detect earthquakes. After the assault on Nordstream pipelines, we questioned if we might additionally detect ships close to infrastructure on the seabed. Our checks confirmed this to be true.”

In September 2022, an explosion occurred on the Nordstream pipelines that pump fuel from Russia to Europe. This billion-dollar monitor stays unstoppable due to the sabotage. The perpetrator has not but been recognized.

Usually, all delivery visitors within the North Sea is monitored by an automated identification system. Ships have transponders on board, in order that it’s recognized who’s crusing the place and, for instance, accidents could be prevented throughout the evening. Ships can solely resolve to cancel such a responder themselves, says Vandeweijer.

“Definitely within the latter case, when a vibration is detected, an automated alert could be despatched to the authorities and the proprietor of the infrastructure, to tell them of suspicious visitors.”

The system just isn’t but operational, however in line with Vandeweijer it might significantly contribute to security within the North Sea. Mixed with information from satellites and radar, a greater community could possibly be created.

The benefit of the brand new know-how is that loads of infrastructure is wrapped on the seabed. “Many cables and pipelines are already laid collectively in tracks. This already covers a big a part of the submarine infrastructure. By including extra cables or different methods particularly to search out them, you might additionally cowl blind spots.”

A joint investigation by Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Finnish public broadcasters confirmed in 2023 that Russia is engaged on plans for a bigger scale. infrastructure injury in European waters. Additionally the Dutch MIVD warns that Russia is ready to hold out main sabotage on the North Sea ground.

To this finish, Russian analysis vessels are additionally stated to have mapped the seabed within the Dutch North Sea. France, amongst others, says it has invested in deep-sea robots due to these threats, to allow them to additionally examine pipelines in deep water.

Nieuwsuur beforehand did this report on the fragility of submarine cables: