🌊 Safeguarding the Baltic: Enhancing Offshore Infrastructure Protection 🌊
Following a wave of recent attacks on infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, the USA🇺🇸 and Nordic-Baltic partners have agreed to increase subsea infrastructure security in the region. Meanwhile, NATO is launching its “Baltic Sentry” programme, which will involve frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and a fleet of naval drones, patrolling the area.
There are several thousand kilometres of pipelines, data, and power cables in the Baltic Sea spanning an area just under 400,000 square kilometres—about the same size as the whole of Germany 🇩🇪. Policing and monitoring such a large area in real-time will be extremely challenging.
To assess whether the original design conditions remain fit for purpose in this era of heightened geopolitical tensions, we suggest a detailed risk assessment combining probabilistic and deterministic methods to evaluate potential threats.
For existing or new infrastructure, these models should then determine which mitigation strategies merit consideration.
Preventative measures could include:
Pipeline/Cable Burial: Burying pipelines and cables deeper below the seabed to shield them from potential threats and accidental damage. For newbuild infrastructure, this could involve using specialised trenching equipment to achieve the desired burial depth.
Rock Dumping: Strategically placing rock over pipelines and cables to provide additional protection against physical impacts. This method not only secures the infrastructure but also stabilises the seabed environment.
Advanced Monitoring Systems: Implementing state-of-the-art surveillance technologies, including underwater drones and sensors, to constantly monitor the integrity of the infrastructure. These systems can detect anomalies in real-time, allowing for swift response to any potential threats.
StreamTec partner Trond Gjedrem adds, "We at StreamTec are experienced in building robust risk management strategies on behalf of our clients to properly evaluate risks and determine appropriate mitigation strategies."
For more information on how we can help protect your infrastructure, please contact us.
News website link: https://lnkd.in/dq78SedB
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