Gochang, South Korea, September 3, 2025
News Summary
Korea Electric Power Corporation has introduced S-CAP, a data-driven software tool that standardizes submarine cable protection by quantifying risk, recommending optimized protection measures and producing design reports. S-CAP accepts site-specific inputs such as anchor types, wave and current conditions, and detailed seabed properties to calculate variable burial depths and recommend alternatives like rock berms or concrete ducts. Backed by numerical modelling and full-scale tests at a large Korean testing centre, the program has received formal document verification and has been applied to a major offshore wind grid link, delivering improved transparency, lower repair risk and cost savings.
KEPCO unveils S‑CAP: a DNV‑verified software that standardizes and quantifies submarine cable protection
South Korea’s state electric utility has rolled out a new engineering program that aims to make undersea cable protection more scientific, repeatable and economical. The tool, now formally verified by a global classification body, uses environmental and engineering inputs to calculate variable burial depths, propose alternative protective structures and produce design drawings and reports. The software has already been used on a national offshore wind grid link, and its development was described alongside separate large submarine cable projects connecting Korea with Japan and with the United States.
Key takeaway
The software moves cable protection from rule‑of‑thumb approaches to a data‑driven design process. It addresses limits of legacy methods that often prescribe uniform burial depths or rely on simplified indices, and it was validated through a program of full‑scale tests. The verification letter issued in early 2024 is presented as the first formal document checking the method’s quantitative approach.
What the software does
The program accepts site inputs such as anchor types and weights, wave height, current velocity and detailed seabed properties (unit weight, undrained shear strength, internal friction). It then automatically calculates an optimal burial depth for each route segment, suggests multiple protection options (trench burial, rock berms, concrete ducts or combinations), and produces cross‑section drawings and a full design report. The tool is built on a set of internal engineering standards that convert empirical test results into formula‑based charts and installation specifications for protective structures.
Why this matters now
Demand for submarine cables has jumped with faster climate action, more offshore wind and growing cross‑border interconnections. At the same time, recent incidents in busy waters have underscored the high cost of repairs and the systemic risks that damaged cables can pose to power and data networks. Traditional approaches such as blanket burial depths or a simple Burial Protection Index can be too coarse for multilayer seabeds or rocky, deep conditions. The new software applies variable burial depths tied to local marine risk, aiming to avoid both over‑engineering and under‑protection.
Testing and standards behind the tool
The software’s development included extensive numerical simulations plus full‑scale validation at a national testing center that hosts high‑voltage transmission and underground cable trials across nearly 741,000 square meters. A central engineering principle derived from those trials is that required burial depth should exceed the sum of maximum anchor penetration plus a safety margin. That empirical result was formalized into design standards and rule sets for the program.
Verification and claimed savings
A global classification and certification body provided a letter of document verification in February 2024, describing the approach as quantitatively rigorous and practically applicable. The program is presented as applicable to both HVDC and AC submarine cable projects and is framed as offering measurable cost and environmental benefits. Reported savings include an estimated 5% cut in construction costs—about USD 2 million per 100 km in the example cited—and a larger claim of roughly 50% cost reduction on a particular offshore wind connection project when the software was used for route and protection design.
Practical deployments and parallel projects
The software was applied to a southwestern offshore wind‑to‑land connection in Korea, a project targeting grid connection by 2029 and full completion by 2031. In related market moves, a consortium has secured a turnkey contract to build a roughly 260 km undersea telecom link between Busan and Fukuoka, with completion aimed near 2027; the system is designed to carry rising data demand in the region. Separately, construction has begun on a long trans‑Pacific subsea system of about 12,500 km with multiple landings in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and California, built to carry hundreds of terabits per second and scheduled to enter service in the latter half of 2028.
Broader implications
More standardized, quantified protection methods can reduce the chance of outages from anchor strikes and shifting seabeds, lower repair bills, and shrink environmental disturbance by avoiding unnecessary over‑excavation. Digitized design outputs also support clearer traceability between project owners and contractors, which can speed approvals and installation while making post‑installation risk assessments easier.
Limitations and caveats
The software relies on accurate input data about seabed layers, vessel traffic and local environmental forces; poor inputs will limit its effectiveness. Reported cost savings are examples and may vary by project. The tool augments but does not replace good site investigation, regulatory approvals, or appropriate risk management for unusual seabed conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the submarine cable protection software?
The software calculates site‑specific protection measures — optimal burial depths and alternatives like rock berms — using marine and engineering inputs to provide standardized, traceable designs.
How is burial depth determined?
Burial depth is computed based on anchor penetration potential, wave and current forces, seabed mechanical properties and a safety margin derived from full‑scale testing and simulations.
What projects has the tool been used on?
The program was applied to a national offshore wind grid link. Related submarine projects in the region include a Busan–Fukuoka telecom cable and a long East Asia–US subsea system under construction.
Does the software reduce costs?
Reported examples suggest modest average savings per 100 km and larger project‑specific reductions when optimized protection reduces excessive excavation or unnecessary protective structures; actual savings depend on site conditions.
Summary table: key features
| Item | Purpose | Notable details |
|---|---|---|
| KEPCO S‑CAP | Standardize and quantify submarine cable protection | Uses anchor, wave, current and seabed inputs; generates burial depths, design charts and reports; DNV‑verified (Feb 2024) |
| Busan–Fukuoka telecom link (JAKO) | Short cross‑border undersea telecom cable | Approx. 260 km, turnkey contract, completion targeted by 2027 to support regional data growth |
| E2A subsea cable | Long trans‑Pacific data link | About 12,500 km, landing points in Taiwan, Korea, Japan and California, >192 Tbps capacity, service target H2 2028 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Korea JoongAng Daily: LS Cable wins $115M submarine cable order from Taiwan
- Wikipedia: LS Cable & System
- Capacity Media: LS Cable joins Korea–Japan submarine cable project
- Google Search: Korea Japan submarine cable Busan Fukuoka
- Financial Times: Subsea cable / industry coverage
- Google Scholar: submarine cable protection anchor penetration
- DataCenter Dynamics: Construction begins on E2A subsea cable connecting US to Asia
- Encyclopedia Britannica: E2A subsea cable
- Inspenet: Taihan secures subsea cable contract for Korea offshore wind project
- Google News: Taihan subsea cable Korea offshore wind
Author: Construction TX News
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