Submarine Cables
Data Set (DS) | Office for Coastal Management (OCM)GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:66190 | Updated: February 20, 2025 | Published / External
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Summary
Short Citation
Office for Coastal Management, 2025: Submarine Cables, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/66190.
Full Citation Examples
These data show the general location of commercial and research submarine cables within U.S. waters. The majority of these cables are for telecommunications, and the remaining are for power transmission. The geographic footprint for each cable may vary and is dependent on the original source data. In the nearshore, cables are routinely buried below the seabed. In the offshore, they are placed directly on the seabed. A submarine cable area may contain one or more physical cables. 30 CFR 585.301 defines a minimum 100-foot-wide right of way grant on each side of a cable.
Distribution Information
-
Marine Cadastre Data Registry
For coastal and ocean planning
Controlled Theme Keywords
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT, oceans, planningCadastre
Child Items
| Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Entity | Submarine Cable Areas |
Contact Information
Point of Contact
NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
coastal.info@noaa.gov
(843) 740-1202
https://coast.noaa.gov
Extents
-180° W,
180° E,
71.795736° N,
-14.281102° S
Item Identification
| Title: | Submarine Cables |
|---|---|
| Status: | Completed |
| Publication Date: | 2025-02-19 |
| Abstract: |
These data show the general location of commercial and research submarine cables within U.S. waters. The majority of these cables are for telecommunications, and the remaining are for power transmission. The geographic footprint for each cable may vary and is dependent on the original source data. In the nearshore, cables are routinely buried below the seabed. In the offshore, they are placed directly on the seabed. A submarine cable area may contain one or more physical cables. 30 CFR 585.301 defines a minimum 100-foot-wide right of way grant on each side of a cable. |
| Purpose: |
To support ocean planning activities pursuant to the Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, the Energy Policy Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. |
| Supplemental Information: |
Bureau Code: 006:48, Program Code: 006:055 |
Keywords
Theme Keywords
| Thesaurus | Keyword |
|---|---|
| Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords |
EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT
|
| ISO 19115 Topic Category |
oceans
|
| ISO 19115 Topic Category |
planningCadastre
|
Spatial Keywords
| Thesaurus | Keyword |
|---|---|
| Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords |
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
|
| UNCONTROLLED | |
| None | Exclusive Economic Zone |
| None | Outer Continental Shelf |
| None | Territorial Sea |
Physical Location
| Organization: | Office for Coastal Management |
|---|---|
| City: | Charleston |
| State/Province: | SC |
Data Set Information
| Data Set Scope Code: | Data Set |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Frequency: | Annually |
| Data Presentation Form: | Map (digital) |
| Entity Attribute Overview: |
shortName, cableSystem, owner, status, region |
| Distribution Liability: |
https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html |
| Data Set Credit: | NOAA Office for Coastal Management |
Support Roles
Point of Contact
| Date Effective From: | 2018-06 |
|---|---|
| Date Effective To: | |
| Contact (Organization): | NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM) |
| Address: |
2234 South Hobson Ave Charleston, SC 29405-2413 |
| Email Address: | coastal.info@noaa.gov |
| Phone: | (843) 740-1202 |
| URL: | https://coast.noaa.gov |
Extents
| Currentness Reference: | Publication Date |
|---|
Extent Group 1
Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1
| W° Bound: | -180 | |
|---|---|---|
| E° Bound: | 180 | |
| N° Bound: | 71.795736 | |
| S° Bound: | -14.281102 |
Spatial Information
Spatial Representation
Representations Used
| Grid: | No |
|---|---|
| Vector: | Yes |
| Text / Table: | No |
| TIN: | No |
| Stereo Model: | No |
| Video: | No |
Vector Representation 1
| Topology Level: | Geometry Only |
|---|---|
| Complex Object Present?: | No |
| Composite Object Present?: | No |
| Curve Object Present?: | No |
| Point Object Present?: | No |
| Solid Object Present?: | No |
| Surface Object Present?: | Yes |
| Surface Object Count: | 2816 |
Reference Systems
Reference System 1
Coordinate Reference System |
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Access Information
| Security Class: | Unclassified |
|---|---|
| Data Use Constraints: |
For coastal and ocean planning |
Distribution Information
Distribution 1
| Download URL: | https://marinecadastre.gov/data |
|---|---|
| Distributor: | |
| Description: |
Marine Cadastre Data Registry |
Distribution 2
| Download URL: | https://marinecadastre.gov/downloads/data/mc/SubmarineCable.zip |
|---|---|
| Distributor: |
Technical Environment
| Description: |
Microsoft Windows, ArcGIS Pro, Azure SQL |
|---|
Data Quality
| Accuracy: |
Untested |
|---|---|
| Horizontal Positional Accuracy: |
Compiled to meet 10 meters horizontal accuracy at 95% confidence level |
| Completeness Report: |
1) Does not include features for some U.S. Pacific territories 2) Does not include some or all segments of the AMX1, and GCN cables in Puerto Rico, and HANTRU 1, and PIPE cables in the Guam area 3) Does not include the complete geometry for all cables out to the limit of the EEZ due to a lack of source data 4) Cables known to have been recovered are not included 5) Includes features from source material thru 2024-09-30 |
| Conceptual Consistency: |
These data are logically consistent |
Lineage
Sources
Cable_Area (General, Coastal, Approach, Harbour, Berthing)
| Contact Role Type: | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | NOAA Office of Coastal Survey- Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) |
| Extent Type: | Discrete |
| Extent Start Date/Time: | 2024-03-05 |
| Citation URL: | https://encdirect.noaa.gov/ |
| Citation URL Name: | Source Online Linkage |
| Citation URL Description: |
URL where the source data were originally accessed |
| Source Contribution: |
file geodatabase feature classes of cable areas |
Dominion Energy CVOW Pilot Project Export Cable Repair Activities LNTM
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Dominion Energy |
| Publish Date: | 2020-07-13 |
| Citation URL: | https://cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net/-/media/pdfs/global/wind/071320-cvow--pilot-lntm-cable-repair-rev1-submittal.pdf?la=en&rev=d16fed57db864e3cb95f39a25b48a7f4&hash=9AD954C791C312069D2FDE85D2C3508B |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Draft Environmental Impact Report
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
| Publish Date: | 2021-06-25 |
| Citation URL: | https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2021/070921em/sc/eir/16231%20deir%20Vineyard%20Wind2-Barnstable%20Edgartown%20Mashpee%20Nantucket.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
FCC Submarine Cable Landing Pending Applications List by File Number
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Federal Communications Commission |
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
| Citation URL: | https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr028b.hts?as_subsystem_code=SCL/SUBMARINE+CABLE+LANDING&column=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/FILE+NUMBER&fstate=0/PENDING&prepare= |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity and ownership of submarine cables |
Finding of No Significant Impact
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |
| Publish Date: | 2014-09-04 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/about-boem/BOEM-Regions/Pacific-Region/Lease-Management/BOEM-Finding-of-No-Significant-Impact-and-Environmental-Assessment.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Lake Erie Connector Project - Final Environmental Assessment
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Publish Date: | 2016-10-01 |
| Extent Type: | Discrete |
| Extent Start Date/Time: | 2016 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/11/f34/2016-10-26-LEC-Final-EA.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Local Notice to Mariners
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Featured-Content/Mariners/Local-Notice-to-Mariners-LNMs/ |
| Source Contribution: |
Location, identity, ownership, and status of individual submarine cables |
NASCA Member Submarine Cable System Maps
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | North American Submarine Cable Association |
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.n-a-s-c-a.org/cable-maps-all-regions/ |
| Source Contribution: |
Location, identity, status, and ownership of individual submarine cables |
Nationwide Automatic Identification System
| Contact Role Type: | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Office for Coastal Management |
| Extent Type: | Range |
| Extent Start Date/Time: | 2015 |
| Extent End Date/Time: | 2024 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/73064 |
| Source Contribution: |
Geographic position for cable ship |
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind South Project Offshore Massachusetts
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |
| Publish Date: | 2021-06-30 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/30/2021-13994/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-the-vineyard-wind-south-project |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
OCH Cable System database
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Packet Clearing House |
| Citation URL: | https://prefix.pch.net/applications/cablesystem/index.php?sort=total_capacity&show_active_only |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership of submarine cable |
Public Notice
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Publish Date: | 2018-03-16 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Portals/39/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/Public_Notice_2016-0542-75.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Public Notice
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Publish Date: | 2019-03-21 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Portals/37/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2019/Mar19/NAN-2018-00276-EHA%20America%20Europe%20Connect%202%20USA%20Havfrue%20Cable%20Public%20Notice.pdf?ver=SLufhtuHQxprv2vfjFHu4Q%3d%3d |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Raster Nautical Charts (RNC)
| Contact Role Type: | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS) |
| Extent Type: | Discrete |
| Extent Start Date/Time: | 2022-12-07 |
| Citation URL: | https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/charts/noaa-raster-charts.html |
| Citation URL Name: | Source Online Linkage |
| Citation URL Description: |
URL where the source data were originally accessed |
| Source Contribution: |
Location of individual submarine cables, and submarine cable areas |
Scientific Cables
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | International Cable Protection Committee |
| Citation URL: | https://iscpc.org/information/cable-data/scientific-cables/ |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
State Coastal Zone Management Programs
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
|---|---|
| Source Contribution: |
Official agency records and technical reports related to permits, studies and conditions necessary for the siting of submarine cables |
Submarine Cable Industry Vendors
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
|---|---|
| Source Contribution: |
The location and identity of select recently installed submarine cables as shown on Cable Awareness charts intended for the maritime community |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Response to Correspondence
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | New Jersey Field Office Ecological Services |
| Publish Date: | 2013-01-08 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Portals/39/docs/Civil/LBI/App-E-LEI-April-2016.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
USACE Jurisdictional Determinations and Permit Decisions
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | U.S. Army Corp of Engineers |
| Publish Date: | 2024-05-06 |
| Citation URL: | https://permits.ops.usace.army.mil/orm-public# |
| Source Contribution: |
Location, identity, ownership and status of individual submarine cables |
Vineyard Wind Draft Construction and Operations Plan
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Organization |
| Contact Name: | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |
| Publish Date: | 2020-09-30 |
| Citation URL: | https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/Vineyard%20Wind%20COP%20Volume%20I_Section%203.pdf |
| Source Contribution: |
Identity, ownership and general location of submarine cable |
Process Steps
Process Step 1
| Description: |
Utilize NOAA’s RNC as a base layer to review for existing scale information for each shape area. Start by creating an empty feature class for the cable areas, and then add all Berthing cable areas to SubmarineCableArea feature class. Select by location, where all HarbourAreas intersect Berthing & reverse the selection so that areas that exist do not intersect the existing areas are selected, copy these areas & add them to SubmarineCableArea feature class. Re-select areas that overlap BerthingAreas from HarbourAreas & individually confirm existence & correctness of Cable Area using the RNC. Add or adjust cable areas based on largest scale available to resolve resolution conflicts. Perform this method for each scale layer onto the next largest layer until all areas have been quality controlled for scale conflict issues. (Berthing to Harbour, Harbour to Approach, Approach to Coastal, Coastal to General) |
|---|---|
| Process Date/Time: | 2018-04-23 00:00:00 |
Process Step 2
| Description: |
1) Acquire source data and input into a feature class 2) Deconflict overlapping features and remove inferior geometry 3) MERGE geometry into a single logical feature for each major segment of a cable 4) BUFFER with the geodesic parameter 5) Populate attribute fields 6) MERGE features for each ocean basin into a single feature class |
|---|---|
| Process Date/Time: | 2024-05-06 00:00:00 |
Process Step 3
| Description: |
Updated to include cables within the Guam and CNMI area using methods outlined in step 2 above. |
|---|
Process Step 4
| Description: |
Updated to a) remove out of service cables that were recovered from the seabed, b) fill in omissions, c) add newly installed cables, d) and improve the geometry and attribute information of existing cables using methods outlined in step 2 above. |
|---|---|
| Process Date/Time: | 2025-02-19 00:00:00 |
Child Items
Rubric scores updated every 15m
|
Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Entity | Submarine Cable Areas |
Catalog Details
| Catalog Item ID: | 66190 |
|---|---|
| GUID: | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:66190 |
| Metadata Record Created By: | Brianna Key |
| Metadata Record Created: | 2021-12-22 05:22+0000 |
| Metadata Record Last Modified By: | Daniel Martin |
| Metadata Record Last Modified: | 2025-02-20 00:43+0000 |
| Metadata Record Published: | 2025-01-22 |
| Owner Org: | OCM |
| Metadata Publication Status: | Published Externally |
| Do Not Publish?: | N |
| Metadata Last Review Date: | 2024-09-09 |
| Metadata Review Frequency: | 1 Year |
| Metadata Next Review Date: | 2025-09-09 |