1. Undersea cables and cable maintenance in the Mediterranean Sea

2. Contents
FT Marine activity
MECMA Agreement
Submarine Cables in Med Sea
Repair of a submarine cable
Our means devoted to MECMA

3. A young subsidiary but more than a century of experience
FT Marine activity
A young subsidiary but more than a century of experience
Since 1860 the Ministry of Posts and Telegraph, and its successors has been involved in the marine installation and the maintenance of submarine cables
Since 2000 FT Marine a 100% owned subsidiary of France Telecom has been created. This subsidiary is in charge of
The two marine bases of La Seyne and Brest, where the cable depot is located
The three cable ships based in France and through a subsidiary of the cable ship based in CapeTown, South Africa
The tools and vehicules on board these ships. Simec is a 100% owned subsidiary of FT Marine building and maintening these vehicules and tools
A remote operated vehicule is installed on board a Singtel cable ship in Cochin, India
FT Marine group has a turn over 36m€, with an MBO of 6.4m€
FT Marine staff is comprising of Ship Crew, Technical Teams on Board and in the bases, Support and Administration, the total staff is at the end of 2007 of 242

4. Telecom Italia Sparkle
MECMA Agreement
france telecom
Telefonica
PTC
IAM
Matelca
PTT Algeria
Tunitel
Maltacom
GPTC Libya
OTE
Albanian Telecom
Telecom Italia Sparkle HT
Westelecom
Rom Telecom
UKRTEC
Rostelecom
BTC
Turk Telecom
LMPT
STE
CYTA
BEZEQ
Telecom Egypt
STID
STC
MED1
Vodafone
ATT
FLAG
Partner
INFN
ENEL
MedCable
IN2P3
Association between the owners of submarine cables in Med, Black and Red Sea, in the aim to share the cost of maintenance of their systems
=> Reduction of maintenance costs per kms

5. MECMA Agreement      La Seyne / Mer Valencia Catania Kalamata
MECMA Resources dedicated is:
1 Cable Ship FT Marine and 1 Cable Ship Elettra, both with ROV, ready to sail 365d/y 24h/d
2 main cable storage depots
Submarine Cable Depot
Cable Ship Base

6. Submarine Cables in Med Sea
IN SERVICE CABLES
150 Systems
238 Segments
km of cables

7. Submarine Cables in Med Sea
ALL CABLES (In & Out of Service)
kms (estimation) of cables on the seabed
8 times more than In service cables length

8. Increase of faults mainly due to
Submarine Cables in Med Sea
History of Faults
WHY ?
Increase of faults mainly due to
 Grow up of the Maritim Traffic
 Fishing Activity remaining important on the south part of the Med Sea
=> In spite of the improvement of protection of submarine cables (Burial and berth forbidden areas)

9. 60 % of repair operation between 0 and 500 m Location is concentrated
Submarine Cables in Med Sea
Distribution of Faults
60 % of repair operation between 0 and 500 m
Number of Operations from 1995
WHERE ?
Location is concentrated
 within the shallow water
 in the bays or straits close to intense maritim activity 4%
23%
Water depth
32%
35% 6%

10. Fault reasons are mainly
Submarine Cables in Med Sea
Causes of Faults
REASONS ?
Fault reasons are mainly
Human agressions (Fishing activity and anchoring)
Shallow water shall be shared with intelligence by your cable and the other users.
The deskstop study prior to the installation is important to know the environnement of your cable and will be crucial for the life of your system

11. Different types of repair
MECMA Agreement
Different types of repair
MECMA Agreement
Divers
Shore End
Shallow water works
ROV
Cutting/Gripping
Survey/Inspection
Post Repair Burial
Repeater or BU repair
Cable Repair
Shunt Fault
Optical fibers fault
ISR
Terminal Station 2
Terminal Station 1
BMH
BMH
-30 m
-1000 m
Branching Unit
Repeater
To Terminal Station 3

12. MECMA Agreement Outside work
MECMA OFFERS THE POSSIBILITY TO USE THE CABLESHIP OUT OF THE SERVICE CONTRACT
Use of the means of the Cable ship (Lay, ROV work, Deep Sea Work, Shallow water Work)
Upon MECMA Maintenance Authorities agreement
On an interruptible basis
Within the MECMA geographic area

13. Repair of a submarine cable
Fault Investigation
HOW TO LOCATE A FAULT
SHUNT FAULT
Stations calculate the fault position using values of PFE
OPTICAL LOSS
Stations calculate the fault position using OTDR or COTDR
HOW TO LOCATE A FAULT ON GROUND
ROV SURVEY
 Dive with ROV HECTOR 3 to find the accurate location of the fault if fault is in shallow water (0-1000m)
 Use of TSS system (detector of cable and/or frequency) installed on the ROV
ELECTRODING LOCATION
 Terminal station inject a 25 Hz-tone in the segment
 Detection by the CS of 25 Hz in the cable and lack of signal at the fault

14. Repair of a submarine cable
Recovery of a submarine cable
HOW TO RECOVER THE CABLE
USE OF ROV
 Gripping of cable with robotic arm and recovering on board by rope in the CS cable machine
USE OF GRAPNEL
 Use of a grapnel dragged out by the CS cable machine on the seabed in order to hook the cable

15. Repair of a submarine cable
Jointing of cable
A NEW CABLE SECTION IS INSERTED INSTEAD OF THE FAULTY ONE
JOINTING BOX
 When the segment is clear, we begin to joint one side to a new section of cable (from depot).
 16 hours for a joint (excluding measure)

16. Repair of a submarine cable
Lay of Final cable Bight
A SECOND JOINT IS CARRIED OUT TO LINK THE SYSTEM TO THE NEW CABLE SECTION
Final Bight
 When the second joint is completed, the excess of cable length is deployed on the sea bed.
 a V-shape will be spread on the seabottom. This bight will be a weak point of your system regarding external agression (trawling or anchoring)
Burial of the repair operation
TO PROTECT YOUR CABLE IN AN AREA WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO AGRESSION
ROV will be used to jet seawater and performed a trench along your cable. Average Speed : 200 m/h

17. Our means in MECMA Cable ships C/S Raymond Croze C/S René Descartes
Length
102 m
Draft
6.25 m
Max Speed
15 knots
Range
45 days
Accomoda.
77 cabins
Power
2 x 1420 kW shells + 1 BThrust + 1 AThrust
Cable work
3 tanks / 2 Drum Cable Eng + 1 Linear CE
C/S René Descartes
Length
145 m
Draft
7.40 m
Max Speed
16 knots
Range
45 days
Accomoda.
75 cabins
Power
2 x 4000 kW shells + 2 BThrust + 2 AThrust
Cable work
4 tanks / 2 Drum Cable Eng + 1 Linear CE

18. Our means in MECMA ROV HECTOR 3 Power 225 kW Max Depth
1500 m / 1000 m (contract)
Burial perf
1.5 m
Burial speed
400 m/h on tracks
Equipment
Manipulator / Gripper / Cutter / HP and BP Jetting tools