Marine Survey in Solomon Islands Waters

Over the coming few weeks you may notice some interesting activity happening in your area as our Marine Survey is conducted. The purpose of this Marine Survey is to accurately measure the sea floor and chart the most accurate and safe route for the new submarine cable before it is manufactured. This will also ensure we get the right amounts of protective shielding around the cables where they are needed to preserve it for a long and successful working life of 25 years.

Such surveys require very specialist expertise and Hong Kong Company EGS with their ship RV Northern Endeavour were chosen by the Commonwealth funded Coral Sea Cable Project for this important role. You may notice her manoeuvring in deeper waters off of Honiara, Auki , Noro and Taro over coming weeks until the end of November. She will make port in Honiara on 20th October and begin her preparations. She will be performing all the surveys for the routes at deeper than 15m water depth.

You may also notice the local ship MV Tara operating in shallower waters near the shore at each of the cable landing points in Honiara, Auki, Noro and Taro.

She has been engaged to allow specialists to survey the waters and sea floor from 15m water depth to the shore.

The specialists will also be conducting some surveying from the land side collecting valuable information on how to land the submarine cable and join it with the land cables that will be installed in the SISCC land

ducts that will shortly begin construction. They will be using land surveying equipment such as theodolites and may also fly a drone to get detailed aerial photographs of the landing location.

The schedule for the survey is subject to change depending on conditions and the extent of the work required, however, at this point in time we expect surveying in Honiara first in October, in Auki the first week of November, Taro the second week of November and Noro by the third week of November.

Any further inquiries or questions these should be addressed to Keir Preedy, CEO of Solomon Submarine Cable at the address below or by e mail to kpreedy@MOF.gov.sb