Design and Application of New Technology for Intelligent Inspection and Early Warning of Submarine Cables against External Breakage

Submarine cables, as crucial equipment in marine power transmission projects connecting island power supplies, bear significant digital communication tasks. However, cables laid on the seabed are easily susceptible to natural or human-induced damages. The most significant threats to currently laid submarine cables are ship anchor operations and the use of fishing gear by the marine fishing industry. Anchor damage, a type of external breakage, accounts for over 70% of submarine cable faults and is a major factor in the frequent occurrence of cable faults. Due to varying burial depths, submarine cables incur considerable maintenance costs and have long repair cycles, impacting island power supply, limiting local production activities, and resulting in substantial economic losses and social impacts. Therefore, to ensure the safe operation of submarine cables, the development of ship anchor identification and early warning technology is imperative. Based on this, this paper starts with the external breakage factors of anchor damage, establishing a submarine cable anti-external breakage intelligent inspection and early warning monitoring platform through 3D visualization technology and AIS equipment. This platform can visualize the relationship between the submarine topography, ship anchors, and cables through 3D technology, providing comprehensive and multidimensional support for early warning judgment and incident playback accountability in submarine cable operation and maintenance, thereby further reducing cable faults caused by anchor damage and consequent economic losses.