Submarine Cables

We long have been familiar with the wide variety of submarine cable projects, which call for experience and judgment in the communications and maritime industries, environmental law, regulatory, energy matters, and military- and science-related cable systems. Our experience covers Federal Communications Commission, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and state coastal agency applications and consultations.

Specific cable projects over the past 26 years include TPE, AAG, TAT-14, HIBERNIA, GEMINI, TAT-13, GCN, NPC, TAT-10, TAT-7, TAT-4 and TAT-3. Our lawyers have handled more cable fault cases than any other firm in the world with impressive results that deter future actions leading to faults while allowing for recovery of millions of dollars in restoration and repair costs. Our expertise extends to the full range of submarine cable and pipeline issues including control, monitor and alarm (CM&A) contracts, indefeasible rights of use (IRU) agreements, crossing agreements, international maritime boundary issues, cable ship charters, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) agreements and cable systems connecting offshore energy platforms. Our goal is to assist our clients to get cable projects completed on time and under budget.

Legal Jurisdiction Over International Submarine Cables

Squire Sanders Transportation, Shipping and Logistics Practice Group has created a handout detailing the different legal regimes affecting submarine cables including the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, Geneva Convention on the High Seas, Geneva Convention of the Continental Shelf, International Convention for Protection of Submarine Cable and US Federal Permitting Authority.