The Ministry of Defense has collected data and imagery of energy infrastructure in the North Sea in collaboration with Dutch company Fugro. The operation was conducted for the interdepartmental Protection of North Sea Infrastructure program, led by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Subsea internet and power cables, as well as oil and gas pipelines, are vulnerable to sabotage and espionage. In collaboration with Fugro, Defense has taken steps to improve effective monitoring and protection this infrastructure. SeaSEC was in the lead to organize this operation on behalf of all stakeholders.
Innovation with Unmanned Vessels
For the first time, Defense deployed an unmanned, remotely operated vessel to map the seabed. Fugro has vast experience with this technology in the energy and telecom sectors. These vessels are equipped with sensors and an underwater robot for close-up inspections. The collaboration provided Defense with valuable insights into the functionality and applicability of this technology.
Broad Collaboration and future development
Various stakeholders contributed to the operation before, during, and after its execution. Within the Ministry of Defense, this included SeaSEC, the Hydrographic Service, and the Naval Mine Service of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Maritime Systems department of the Defence Materiel and IT Command was also involved. Furthermore, there was cooperation with the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The Northern Naval Capability Cooperation—a maritime collaboration between six countries bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea—was also engaged in the operation. This partnership allows for the sharing of lessons learned with other nations.
The mapping of the North Sea seabed infrastructure will continue to evolve in the future, making a vital contribution to the security of the Netherlands.
Read the original (Dutch) news article on defensie.nl