Developments in subsea power and telecommunication cables detection: Part 2 – Electromagnetic detection

The detection and maintenance of power and telecommunication subsea cables are often difficult and dangerous. Globally, engineers have approached such tasks using different methods. Although the subject is of great importance, there is no single universally accepted method or even agreement about existing methods. This review focuses on electromagnetic detection as a widely used technique for detection of buried cables.

The paper reviews practical methods used in electromagnetic detection of subsea cables and ferromagnetic objects. It begins describing the use of simple searching coils carried by a diver and concludes with techniques that implement magnetometers on autonomous survey platforms.

The methods used in electromagnetic subsea cable detection are often based on simple and established technologies. Despite this, detection of general ferromagnetic objects in the subsea environment is an active area of research. This review also describes developments in underwater unexploded ordnance detection, which can be technologically transferred to the detection of power and telecommunication cables.