Global Marine installs South Korea’s First Deep Ocean Observatory System

Chelmsford, UK: Global Marine Systems Limited, the independent market-leading subsea cable installation and maintenance company has successfully installed South Korea’s first deep sea Ocean observatory system to help detect high levels of seismic activity.

The 20 kilometre seismic cable installed in November, as part of a test project for the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), stretches from the island of Ulleungdo, 135km east of the Korean peninsula, out to sea. If successful, similar systems could be rolled out along the whole of the Korean Peninsular.

Derek Greenham, Solutions Design Manager at Global Marine said, “This is a vital and exciting new project for South Korea. We are delighted to be working with KIT Valley to help provide the Korean Meteorological Association with a viable cost effective monitoring solution to provide new insights into coastal activity across the region.”

Global Marine’s Wave Mercury ship installed the seismic cable and OBU (Ocean Bottom Unit) at a depth of 2,000 metres on behalf of its client KIT Valley, providers of seismic monitoring systems. The OBU acts as a “listening device” on the seafloor, by sensing changes in water pressure and acoustic vibrations. This data is then relayed back in real time via the seismic cable direct to staff at the KMA.

The cable installation and testing was completed in 4 days and full results of the test project are due in 1 January 2007.

KIT Valley Director Han SehSub said, “Global Marine has a proven track record in working on underwater infrastructure projects.  We knew the installation would be completed to the highest standards in our short timeframe, and the project would be operational as quickly as possible.”

“Asia is one of the most active regions for tsunami activity in the world and this test project could play a significant part in developing the long-term safety of South Korea’s coastal areas,” he added.

 

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