In addition, submersibles are subjected to the hazard of entanglement 

 with the cable system. Searching units attached at the end of a drilling 

 string may be a solution to the inspection problem. 



The protection of cables exposed in the surf zone is a problem area. 

 One procedure is to bury the cable beneath the surface to avoid mechanical 

 damage and current disturbance. Severe problems have been experienced 

 with cables laid on a rocky sea bed. Winter storms have stirred up the 

 cables and caused kinks, birdcaging, and entanglements. Huge concrete 

 weights and large chains are used to stabilize the cables. In other 

 cases, the shore cables are protected and weighted down by split cast 

 iron pipe. Divers are used to emplace the awkward and heavy protective 

 pipe sections. The process is time-consuming and expensive. 



41 



