SUBCAL - A new electronic cable avoidance system

The SUBCAL unit (Submarine Cable Alert) is a state-of-the-art microprocessor controlled submarine cable warning device considered by its developers - EPSCO, Incorporated and AT&T Communications to be a major advance in cable avoidance systems. This LORAN-C based navigation system monitors the vessel´s position relative to the submarine cables and provides an alert to the captain when the vessel comes within an unsafe distance of the undersea cables. It is hoped that SUBCAL, by automatically monitoring the vessel´s position, will allow the captain more time to adhere to other responsibilities and reduce the potential for cable entanglement. This paper describes the operation of SUBCAL and the future possibilities for this device.