NTTWEM and Global Marine Repair Tsunami Early Warning System for Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Chelmsford, UK/Yokohama, Japan:  NTT World Engineering Marine (NTTWEM), a NTT and Global Marine joint venture, and Global Marine Systems Limited, the independent market-leading subsea cable installation and maintenance company, have successfully completed the repair of a Tsunami seismic monitoring cable for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).

As one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations, Japan has considerable exposure to tsunamis and JAMSTEC’s deep sea floor observatories form a critical part of the Japanese Government’s wider coastal earthquake observation network.

In early 2006, JAMSTEC’s long-term deep sea floor observatory off Muroto Cape on Japan’s east coast experienced a cable failure on one its seismometer monitoring systems, which act as “listening devices” to help provide an early warning of tsunami activity. The integrated observation system at Muroto Cape provides continuous observation of tsunami activity and it is critical that it is working at all times, therefore, NTTWEM and Global Marine were called upon to conduct a rapid repair operation.

From initial inspection to post repair testing, the project was completed in just 11 days.  By utilising Global Marine’s CS Wave Mercury cable ship and specialist crew, NTTWEM inspected and repaired the cable at a depth of approximately 2,000 metres.

Tsuyoshi Komori at NTTWEM said, “NTTWEM and Global Marine’s industry expertise and local knowledge were a natural fit for this project and, as contractor and sub-contractor, we provided a rapid and highly professional service that was also delivered within budget. The Muroto Cape continues to be a highly active region for tsunami activity and the observatory therefore plays a pivotal role in providing the Japanese mainland with an early warning of earthquakes and enables JAMSTEC to collate scientific data which will have long term benefits for the whole of Japan.”

He added, “The repair of a Tsunami seismic monitoring cable was a new and exciting challenge for us and of critical importance for JAMSTEC.  Due to our joint venture structure with Global Marine, we were able to pool both our knowledge of the region and cabling expertise to provide an effective solution and hope to be able to work again with JAMSTEC in the future.”

Further to the Muroto Cape Observatory, JAMSTEC’s tsunami observation network includes a seafloor observatory off Kushiro and Tokachi in the Kuril Trench.  The Japanese Government’s wider tsunami observation network also includes facilities from the Japan Metrological Association (JMA), the Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo University (ERI) and the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED).

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For more information please contact:

Deborah Bartlett
Marketing & Communications
Global Marine Systems Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 1245 702105
Email: deborah.bartlett@globalmarinesystems.com