The detection and maintenance of power and telecommunication subsea cables are often difficult and dangerous. Globally, engineers have approached such tasks using different methods. Although the subject is of great importance, there is no single universally accepted method or even agreement about existing methods. This review focuses on electromagnetic detection as a widely used technique for detection of buried cables.The paper reviews practical methods used in electromagnetic detection of subsea cables and ferromagnetic objects. It begins describing the use of simple searching coils carried by a diver and concludes with techniques that implement magnetometers on autonomous survey platforms.The methods used in electromagnetic subsea cable detection are often based on simple and established technologies. Despite this, detection of general ferromagnetic objects in the subsea environment is an active area of research. This review also describes developments in underwater unexploded ordnance detection, which can be technologically transferred to the detection of power and telecommunication cables.

Subsea power and telecommunication transmission lines play an important role in today's world. They not only provide a link from shore to shore, but also connect an increasing number of offshore wind farms, wave power plants and other sea installations.Subsea cables have to be periodically maintained and checked for movement in terms of their position and burial depth. This task is difficult because of the dynamic environment of the sea floor, which can cause changes in position, depth, visibility and access to the utilities.In this review, developments in visual and hydroacoustic tracking are discussed, as are theoretical and practical concerns. This review also describes methods and tools for detection of the transmission lines laid on a seabed. Finally, it highlights the need to construct a simple reliable system to estimate the position and burial depth of subsea transmission lines.

Welcome to MARELEC 2017, the 10th international conference on marine electromagnetics, to be held at the Central Teaching Hub at the University of Liverpool 27 -30 June. For its 10th anniversary, MARELEC is returning to England, where the conference originated in 1997. MARELEC 2017 will be hosted in the lively and vibrant city of Liverpool, the fastest growing city outside of London boasting a rich maritime history. MARELEC is the only international conference whose primary focus is the exchange of ideas on electromagnetics (EM) in a marine environment. MARELEC 2017 provides the opportunity to discuss ocean based EM with leading researchers from industry, government and military centers, and academic communities. It also provides an opportunity for students to learn about a variety of EM applications and to make contacts in industry and academia. MARELEC 2017 will include presentations, posters, workshops and exhibits on innovative technologies as applied to underwater EM surveillance, communication, vessel signature prediction and control, seafloor and sub-bottom geophysical and archaeological exploration, and oceanography. The conference team and I are looking forward to meeting you in Liverpool at MARELEC 2017.

Point localisation of subsea cables are necessary as a starting point in the search of a particular section or whole length of a cable and become a demanding and challenging task in an uncertain environment such as sea. The authors propose a novel method of using particle filters for estimating the position of a subsea cable in a highly uncertain environment. The method was tested on data collected from a buried cable in the Baltic sea, Denmark and shown to have close approximation to the true location of the subsea cable. The method can be used to localise a subsea cable in an off-shore noisy and uncertain environment and provides an inexpensive alternative to the use of a diver or a remotely operated platform.

Localization of subsea cables is a demanding and challenging task. Among the few methods reported in the literature, magnetic field detection is the most promising one, as the cable does not require to be seen visually. Magnetic noise and a quick attenuation of the magnetic field propagating in sea water often make available methods unreliable. The authors propose a novel method of using particle filters for estimating the position of a subsea cable in a highly uncertain environment. The method was tested on data collected from a buried cable in the Baltic Sea, Denmark and shown to have a close approximation to the true location of the subsea cable. The method can be used to localize a subsea cable in an offshore noisy and uncertain environment and provides an inexpensive alternative to the use of a diver or a remotely operated platform.