Survey for Arctic Way Soon to Be Completed
Pia Bruhn, the project leader of Space Norway's Arctic Way, states that the seabed survey for the new subsea cable to Svalbard and Jan Mayen is likely to be completed within two weeks. (Photo: Birgitte Annie Hansen)
Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): The seabed survey for the subsea cable Arctic Way will soon be completed. It will replace the old cable to Svalbard, but also establish a connection to Jan Mayen.
The current subsea cable to Svalbard was established in 2004 and reaches its estimated lifespan in 2028. Thus, the archipelago needs a new cable as the risk of errors and service outages will increase after 2028, in addition to the increased difficulty of finding spare parts.
Earlier this year, the Norwegian government entered into an agreement with Space Norway about the establishment of a new submarine cable connection to Svalbard. The project has a cost framework of NOK 2,8 billion.
The new submarine connection to Svalbard, Arctic Way, also branches out to Jan Mayen. As of today, the island has no seacable connection and all communication takes place via satellite.
A major military investment is currently taking place in Jan Mayen, including the construction of a new station at the cost of NOK 1,5 billion. Construction began earlier this year.
"The fiber cable is an important part of this investment in Jan Mayen," says Space Norway's project leader, Pia Bruhn, to High North News.
In a press release earlier this year, the Norwegian Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik, said the establishment of a subsea cable to Jan Mayen is important for strengthening the ability for situational awareness and overview in a strategically important area for Norway and the country's allies.
The strengthening is part of the Armed Forces' long-term plan.
The crew aboard Fugro Discovery has been mapping the seabed between Bodø and Svalbard/Jan Mayen since June.
Seabed survey
The seabed survey preceding the cable started in June this year.
Space Norway has entered into an agreement with the US turnkey manufacturer SubCom LLC, which will survey, design, manufacture, and install the cable from Bodø to Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
This week, the survey vessel Frugo Discovery was docked in Bodø for maintenance and a crew change, and project leader Bruhn could reveal that the survey was soon to be completed.
"As long as the weather stays good, we estimate that the seabed survey will be completed in two weeks," she says, adding that the connection is scheduled to be operational by 2028.
The survey vessel Fugro Discovery was docked in Bodø this week for maintenance and a crew change. (Photo: Birgitte Annie Hansen)
Safety measures
Cable cuts are one example of hybrid warfare, and the establishment of a subsea cable connection to Svalbard and Jan Mayen naturally leads to questions about security around the cable.
"One of the safety measures is to bury the cable," says the project leader, adding that the biggest threat to the cable is fisheries.
The new cable will be buried under 2 meters of mud where possible, at up to 1500 meters depth. Fishery activity is very limited at this depth. Today's cable is buried in select places and was damaged in 2022. The police stated early that people were behind it, but had to drop the case due to a lack of evidence.
"In addition, we have preparedness agreements if an accident were to occur so that the cable will be fixed quickly," says Bruhn, and concludes:
"And the seabed survey is a measure in itself – ensuring that the area where the cable is placed is mapped as well as possible, so that there is little risk of fisheries activity and other damage due to the terrain.
This is what the cable that will be laid to Svalbard and Jan Mayen looks like (below). You can see the fiber in the middle and the maximum size (no larger than a golf ball) in the illustration at the top.
