UAE - Under Sea Cables

June 2008

There is an extensive network of fibre optic cables, marked on charts, on the sea bed off the coast of the UAE. In a recent incident a vessel drifted in high winds and its anchor snagged an under sea cable connecting Kuwait with Bandar Abbas. The cable owners lodged a criminal complaint, the vessel was immobilised and the master arrested. Although the length of cable affected was not great, costs are nonetheless anticipated to exceed US$100,000 as the cable must be replaced and a cable laying vessel employed for this purpose.

Vessels are advised to anchor at a safe distance taking into account prevailing and forecast winds. An account of the incident can be downloaded below with kind permission of Galadari & Associates.

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