Splicing & Dynamic Positioning

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]During the entire splicing operation, it's crucial that the ship remains precisely positioned. To achieve this, the ship uses a dynamic positioning system or DP. Now, this computer controlled system continuously analyzes GPS data, weather conditions, and other environmental factors to send realtime signals to the ship's thrusters, keeping the ship in position even in rough seas.

[00:00:25]This constant station keeping is essential because any drift could stress the cable and cause further damage.

[00:00:32]After the splicing is finished, the ship drops that end of the cable and returns to the first end of the cable that was left tied to a boy to join it to the other end of the new spare cable. Once a continuous and functional link is established, comprehensive tests are performed to confirm the repaired cable is working correctly. With successful testing, the cable is then carefully lowered back to the seabed. Now, in some cases, an ROV may be deployed to bury the cable, protecting it from future damage by anchoring or fishing activities. If these ships couldn't lay or repair undersea cables, the internet we know simply wouldn't exist. Sure, we could use satellites for intercontinental data transmission, but it would be unbearably slow and it would struggle to meet the world's growing demands. In fact, the Maria cable, which is currently the fastest connection between the United States and Europe, has a higher capacity than the entire satellite network combined. That's why for the foreseeable future, we depend on these ships and cables.