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In June 1995, the law implementing the UN Convention on the Law of
the Sea entered into force under which approvals granted for the laying
and operation of cables (power cables and communication cables) are subject
to the regulations of the Federal Mining Act (BbergG). The approval process
corresponds to that for
transit
pipelines.
Power cables
In the near future, high-voltage direct current transmission cables are planned
to be laid across the German continental shelf in the North Sea. They will
transport hydroelectric power from Norway. In the process, three-phase current
will be converted to direct current for transport, after which it will be
converted back to three-phase current.
The cable -NorNed- from Norway to the Netherlands, with a length of
570 km, has already been approved and will be routed through the Jade to
Eemshaven, probably by the end of 2007. A bipolar, flat-type cable will be used weighing
about 60 kg/m. The transmission voltage will be 600 kV. The total diameter
of the cable is 13 cm. Its state-of-the-art design ensures optimum environmental
protection.
The cable will be laid by a special lay barge capable of carrying about 6.600
tons of cables. The cable will be lowered from the barge into
the North Sea and buried about 1 m deep in the seabed. The necessary seabed
surveys have been made, and a suitable cable route has been determined under
the guidance of the BSH.
Communication cables
Although modern technology allows the high-speed transmission of data via
satellite, more and more state-of-the-art fibre optic telecommunication cables
are being laid on the seabed. Such cables are less susceptible to failure
and provide higher transmission speeds, making also transatlantic communications
economically viable.
Maps (click for a larger version)
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