Submarine Cables and Pipelines

Submarine Cables and Pipelines

​The Continental Shelf Department is responsible for licensing and regulating the laying and maintenance of submarine cables and pipelines on Malta’s continental shelf and within Malta’s internal and territorial waters as well as any surveys conducted for such purpose.

 
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Schematic diagram showing Malta-Sicily interconnector and communication cables
 

Licensing Procedure

The laying and maintenance of submarine cables and pipelines on Malta's continental shelf (including the internal waters and territorial waters) requires a licence from the Continental Shelf Department in accordance with Regulation 5 of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02). A separate licence is required to carry out a cable or pipeline route survey before laying operations.

The application process is described below. 

(a)     Application for a licence to carry out a submarine cable/pipeline route survey

Applications for the surveying of the continental shelf (including the internal waters and territorial waters) for the purpose of laying of submarine cables or pipelines shall be submitted to the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt​ at least four (4) months before the proposed date of commencement of the surveying works.

The application shall consist of the following documents:

(i)     An application letter addressed to the Director General of the Continental Shelf Department requesting a licence from the Government of Malta in terms of Regulation 5(1) of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02) to carry out a cable or pipeline route survey on the continental shelf of Malta. The letter needs be on an official company letterhead, duly signed and stamped by an authorised officer and shall be submitted by either the cable or pipeline owner/operator or the survey contractor. In the latter case, a supporting letter from the cable or pipeline owner/operator is required;

(ii)       Background information on the submarine cable or pipeline project;

(iii)    Background information on the owner/operator of the proposed cable or pipeline and on the contractor carrying out the route survey. In case the cable or pipeline is owned/operated by a consortium or joint venture, details on the consortium members are required;

(iv)       A map in GIS format (shapefile on WGS 84 datum) of the part of the planned survey corridor route falling within the continental shelf of Malta. A GIS shapefile of the continental shelf of Malta is available upon request by contacting us on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt;

(v)         Indicative dates of the planned survey operations;

(vi)        A detailed description of the data, samples and cores planned to be acquired;

(vii)      Technical specifications of the survey vessel and the acoustic, sampling, coring and other scientific equipment that will be used for surveying purposes;

(viii)      Information concerning the qualifications of the key personnel to be employed for the survey;

(ix)        Indication of other permits requested from other entities of the Government of Malta in connection with the planned survey;

(x)         Any other information requested by the Continental Shelf Department for the purpose of processing the application.

Each application shall be accompanied by a one-time administrative charge of ten thousand euro (€10,000).  Please contact the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt for the necessary payment details.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek the necessary authorisations from other entities in Malta.

 (b)     Application for a licence to lay and maintain a submarine cable

Applications for the laying and maintenance of submarine cables on Malta's continental shelf (including the internal waters and territorial waters) shall be submitted to the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt at least four (4) months before the proposed date of commencement of the laying works.

The application shall consist of the following documents:

(i)     An application letter addressed to the Director General of the Continental Shelf Department requesting a licence from the Government of Malta in terms of Regulation 5(1) of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02) to lay and maintain a submarine cable on the continental shelf of Malta. The letter needs to be on an official company letterhead, duly signed and stamped by an authorised officer and shall be submitted by either the cable owner/operator or the cable laying contractor. In the latter case, a supporting letter from the cable owner/operator is required;

(ii)        Background information on the submarine cable project system;

(iii)     Background information on the owner/operator of the proposed cable and on the cable laying contractor. In case the cable is owned/operated by a consortium or joint venture, details on the consortium members are required;

(iv)     Copies of the annual reports and balance sheets for the three years immediately preceding the application of the owner/operator of the proposed cable and of the consortium or joint venture members if applicable;

(v)       A map in GIS format (shapefile on WGS 84 datum) of the part of the planned cable route system falling within the continental shelf of Malta. A GIS shapefile of the continental shelf of Malta is available upon request by contacting us on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt;

(vi)       Indicative dates of the planned cable laying operations;

(vii)      A detailed description of any data planned to be acquired alongside the cable laying operations;

(viii)     Technical specifications of the cable laying vessel and the technical equipment on board;

(ix)       Information concerning the qualifications of the key personnel to be employed for the cable laying operations;

(x)         Indication of other permits requested from other entities of the Government of Malta in connection with the planned cable laying operations;

(xi)        Any other information requested by the Continental Shelf Department for the purpose of processing the application.

Each application shall be accompanied by a one-time administrative charge of ten thousand euro (€10,000).  Please contact the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt for the necessary payment details.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek the necessary authorisations from other entities in Malta.

 (c)     Application for a licence to lay and maintain a submarine pipeline

Applications for the laying and maintenance of submarine pipelines on Malta's continental shelf (including the internal waters and territorial waters) shall be submitted to the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt at least six (6) months before the proposed date of commencement of the laying operations.

The application shall consist of the following documents:

(i)         An application letter requesting a licence from the Government of Malta in terms of the Regulation 5(1) of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02) to lay and maintain a submarine pipeline on the continental shelf of Malta. The letter needs to be on an official company letterhead, duly signed and stamped by an authorised officer and shall be submitted by the pipeline owner/operator;

(ii)        Background information on the submarine pipeline project;

(iii)       Background information on the owner/operator of the proposed pipeline and on the pipeline laying contractor. In case the cable is owned/operated by a consortium or joint venture, details on the consortium members are required;

(iv)        Copies of the annual reports and balance sheets for the three years immediately preceding the application of the owner/operator of the proposed pipeline and of the consortium or joint venture partners if applicable;

(v)      ​​   A map in GIS format (shapefile or similar on WGS 84 datum) of the part of the planned pipeline route falling within the continental shelf of Malta. A GIS shapefile of the continental shelf of Malta is available upon request by contacting us on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt​;

(vi)       Indicative dates of the planned pipeline laying operations;

(vii)      A detailed description of any data planned to be acquired alongside the pipeline laying operations;

(viii)     Technical specifications of the pipeline laying vessel and the technical equipment on board;

(ix)        Information concerning the qualifications of the key personnel to be employed for the pipeline laying operations;

(x)         Indication of other permits requested from other entities of the Government of Malta in connection with the planned pipeline laying operations;

(xi)        Any other information requested by the Continental Shelf Department for the purpose of processing the application.

Any charges or fees are to be agreed between the Government and the applicant on a case-by-case basis.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek the necessary authorisations from other entities in Malta.
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Read more about Submarine Cables and Pipelines

"In the last 25 years, submarine cables have become a dominant element in the world's economy. It is not too much to say that, without them, it is hard to see how the present world economy could function. The internet is essential to nearly all forms of international trade: 95 per cent of intercontinental, and a large proportion of other international, internet traffic travels by means of submarine cables.

The crucial development that enabled the modern systems was the development of fibre-optic cables: glass fibres conveying signals by light rather than electric current." [Chapter 19, United Nations 2016].

"The diameter of the fibre-optic cables on the abyssal plain is about 17-20 - that is, the width of a typical garden hose. On the continental shelf, the width of the cable has to be greater - about 28-50 millimetres - to allow for the extra armour to protect it from impacts and abrasion in these more dynamic waters and the greater threats from shipping and bottom trawling." [Carter et al., 2009].

"Most of the world's submarine power cables are found in the waters around Europe. The cables fall into one of two classes, depending on whether the electricity is carried as direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). The choice depends on several factors, including the length of the submarine cable and the transmission capacity needed: DC cables are preferred for longer distances and higher transmission capacities.

"Submarine pipelines are used for transporting three main substances: gas, and water. Submarine gas and oil pipelines fall into three groups: intra-field pipelines, which are used to bring the oil or gas from well-heads to a point within the operating field for collection, processing and onward transport; export pipelines, which transport the gas and oil to land; and transport pipelines, which have no necessary connection with the operating field, but transport gas or oil between two places on land. The last category is often included with the export pipelines." [Chapter 19; United Nations 2016]

"Before a pipeline can be laid, the proposed route is surveyed using acoustic seabed mapping technology and underwater cameras to identify any obstacles such as natural bedrock formations, boulders, seabed valleys or migrating sand dunes as well as shipwrecks, other cables and pipelines and dumped ammunition. The pipe is then laid along the surveyed route using either a specialised pipe-laying vessel or else a pull/tow system where the pipeline is built onshore and then towed by ship to its desired location. The first process usually involves one pipe-laying vessel supported by barges that supply the ship with pipe sections plus other support ships that monitor the seabed. Pipe sections are welded together on board, the joints tested (by ultrasound) and the pipe coated with an anticorrosion application.

Pipelines are maintained and inspected using a "pig", a tool that can be inserted one end of the pipeline and pushed by the fluid to the other end. The most basic pigs are used to clean the inside of the pipes; highly-complex "smart pigs" can inspect the condition and thickness of the pipeline and detect points of corrosion or fracturing." [Chapter 21; United Nations 2016]

"Pipelines are monitored for leakage by analog and computer-assisted systems." [Stafford and Williams, 1996].


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The Enemalta interconnector on the ship’s turntable

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The Enemalta interconnector cable laying vessel at Qalet Marku

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A cross section view of the submarine interconnector Enemalta cable

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 Example of submarine cable laying process
 
References

Carter, L., Burnett, D. Drew, S. Marle, G. Hagadorn, L. Bartlett-McNeil, D., and Irvine, N. (2009). Submarine Cables and the Oceans - Connecting the World. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 31. ICPC/UNEP/UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge (England).

Stafford, M., Williams, N. (1996). Pipeline leak detection study, UK Health and Safety Executive - Offshore Technology Report. Bechtel Ltd., London, p. 58.

Simcock, A. (2016). The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment, World Ocean Assessment 1, Chapter 19, Submarine Cables and Pipelines, United Nations.

Harris, P. et al. (2016), The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment, World Ocean Assessment 1, Chapter 21, Offshore Hydrocarbon Industries, United Nations. 
 
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