Van Oord, Sumitomo Sign HVDC Framework Deal for Scottish Interconnector
has signed a long-term framework agreement with a consortium of Sumitomo Electric and Van Oord to support future high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission infrastructure across the north of Scotland.The agreement covers the engineering, supply, transport and installation of HVDC subsea cable systems and includes initial design and engineering work for the proposed 525 kV Shetland 2 HVDC link.The framework brings together SSEN Transmission's long-term investment program, Sumitomo Electric's HVDC cable manufacturing and system design capabilities, and Van Oord's offshore transport
PMI Industries Launches New Split Bending Strain Relief
PMI Industries, Inc., a leader in engineered solutions for underwater marine cable connectors and subsea cable terminations, introduced its new Split Bending Strain Relief (BSR), a cable protection solution designed to provide graduated stiffness, limit bend radius, and protect cable systems in demanding marine environments.Constructed from a corrosion-resistant adaptor, polyurethane, and stainless steel bands, the Split BSR features a symmetrical design with omnidirectional performance. Unlike traditional bending strain relief products that must be installed at the cable end, PMI’s split design
Bermuda Welcomes Google Subsea Cable Landing
The Government of Bermuda welcomed the landing of Google’s Nuvem and Sol subsea cable systems in Bermuda, describing the milestone as an investment in the island’s digital infrastructure, economic resilience, and long-term competitiveness. The Nuvem and Sol cable systems will strengthen international connectivity, enhance network resilience, and support the growing demand for secure, reliable digital infrastructure worldwide. As Bermuda continues to strengthen its position in international business, insurance and reinsurance, fintech, digital assets, and other emerging sectors
Ocean-Bottom Seismometers Play Crucial Role in Offshore Sensing
project in May—a broad European collaboration involving French, Italian and Croatian institutes. This “amphibious survey” will deploy 20 instruments across the Adriatic Sea, integrating marine and land-based seismic monitoring with both nodal and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) cable systems in a new international context.For the remainder of 2026, NFSI will focus on instrument recoveries and turnarounds rather than new deployments.In July, 21 units will be recovered from the Explorer Plate and redeployed offshore Haida Gwai.In back-to-back cruises, this will be followed immediately
JDR Nets Subsea Umbilicals Deal for Australian Gas Project
Amplitude Energy has awarded a contract to JDR Cable Systems to supply subsea control umbilicals for its East Coast Supply Project offshore Victoria, aimed at supporting gas delivery to southeastern Australia.JDR will supply about 18 km of hydraulic control umbilicals, with options for a further 13 km depending on drilling results, the company said.The project will deliver gas to the Athena Gas Plant, which has a processing capacity of up to 150 terajoules per day, supplying homes and businesses across Victoria and South Australia.The contract includes thermoplastic electro-hydraulic production
NKT Inks Final Contracts for Two HVDC Power Links in Scotland
Danish power cable maker NKT has signed final contracts with SSEN Transmission for two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission links in Scotland.The contracts cover the 525 kV HVDC power cable systems for the Western Isles and Spittal to Peterhead transmission links, projects that form part of SSEN Transmission’s Pathway to 2030 investment program to upgrade the electricity grid in northern Scotland.NKT said the turnkey scope includes design, production and installation of both onshore and offshore cable systems, with the projects now included in its high-voltage order backlog.The
Subsea Cable Risk a Mix of Bathymetry and Geopolitics
A new study undertaken by a group of researchers from the UAE, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan collates a range of statistics and expert opinion to address an urgent puzzle: Where and under what conditions do states prioritize cable security?The researchers focused on three contrasting cable systems: Unity/EAC Pacific (Japan–U.S.), Asia-America Gateway (Guam–Hawaii), and Tata TGNTata Indicom (India–Singapore).The risk to such cables varies predictably with geopolitical tension, peaking during ambiguous periods between peace and overt conflict. During these times, adversaries exploit
Google to Build Subsea Cables for PNG
Papua New Guinea’s Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr., has officially announced the $120 million Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative that will deliver three new submarine cable systems to Papua New Guinea, strengthening the nation’s digital backbone with high-capacity connectivity to Northern Papua New Guinea, Southern Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.The project is being entirely funded through Australia’s commitments under the Pukpuk Treaty, a mutual defence treaty which recognises that an armed attack on
Makai Ocean Engineering Launches New Training Simulator for Submarine Cable Installations
hands-on experience with offshore cable installation workflows in a controlled, office-based environment.As the global demand for subsea infrastructure accelerates, driven by expanding internet connectivity, offshore renewable energy, and defense requirements, there is growing pressure to deploy cable systems faster, more reliably, and with a limited pool of experienced personnel, many of whom are already engaged on other projects. Traditional onboard training is expensive, time-limited, and increasingly impractical. The Makai Simulator addresses this gap by providing a realistic, flexible, and cost-effect
February 2026
