TNO, the Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, has developed a method to automatically detect maritime traffic in the vicinity of subsea infrastructure. 

Using optical fibres, sensors make it possible to pick up vibrations from maritime traffic. 

TNO has successfully tested the method, which allows a large area along the path of cables and pipelines, to be monitored in order to prevent intentional or unintentional damage.

The Geological Survey of the Netherlands (part of TNO) have conducted successful tests in the North Sea. Using a wind-farm power cable and a telecommunication cable that runs to the United Kingdom (more than 100 km long) as sensors, data was obtained and maritime traffic close to these cables was detected.

A device, (a DAS interrogator) connected to the end of the cables (on land) uses laser light to detect vibrations along the entire cable length, over very long distances. These vibrations can be caused by earthquakes, environmental noise, ocean waves or even the sounds of marine mammals, but also by maritime traffic.

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By processing the data using an algorithm, it is possible for maritime traffic to be detected. Data from the automatic identification were used to verify the results. 

Offshore cable and pipeline infrastructure is steadily growing, to meet demand for energy and communication. Being very dependent on this infrastructure, recent events of sabotage have shown their high degree of vulnerability.

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