How are submarine cables broken?
Cable breaks occur when fishing gear is towed across or anchored close to or across submarine cables. They can also be broken when a ship’s anchor is dropped directly onto them or drags across. Fishing-related damage may also be caused by trawl otter-boards, beam trawls, scallop dredges, clam dredges or net anchors. These are used directly on the seabed and in the cases of dredges and net anchors, actually penetrate the seabed. When such gear is towed across a cable, problems will occur. Tension breaks can also occur when cables are fouled by fishing gear. This type of damage may not involve the cable being dragged to the surface. If the cable is fouled and broken by towed gear, one end of it can remain entangled and be dragged on board the fishing vessel. Even if a vessel is equipped with strong lifting equipment, cables must NOT be brought to the surface intact and attempts must NOT be made to cut the cable and free the fishing gear. Cable can also be damaged when shoes on beam trawl
