OTEC submarine cable environmental characteristics and hazards analysis

This analysis focuses on submarine cable protection criteria and technology as applied to four potential OTEC plants and cable routes at Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and Florida. The environmental characteristics are presented for each site as follows: (a) natural factors, such as location, tides, currents, wind, waves, bottom soil type, seafloor movement, and (b) man-made factors, such as ship traffic, fishing activities, ocean mining, and government regulations. These characteristics were studied in detail and significant hazards were identified. They are: chafe and corrosion, mudslide, earthquake, trawler fishing, dredging and ship-anchor dragging. An analysis of more than 1,000 submarine cable failures was also conducted. From these records, the probability analysis of damage related to water depth was determined. Probabilities of failures become minimal for all hazards in depths of 1,500 feet and more. Chafe and corrosion have the highest probability of causing damage to a submarine cable compared to the other hazards. Because of the hazards present at all sites, cable burial is recommended as the best means of protection.