Undersea Cables
Full Scope of Services for Managing Your Undersea Cable Project
Clients in the undersea cable field require a wide range of regulatory, transactional and litigation services. Our team of communications, maritime, environmental, real estate, land use and energy attorneys represents clients engaged in telecommunications, electrical power, scientific and military cable system projects. We regularly assist in all aspects of operations, including:
- cable regulatory
- cable construction and maintenance
- cable fault litigation
- cable and infrastructure security
Our knowledge and experience in cable matters spans the entire industry, including marine surveys, U.S. and overseas cable landing licenses, state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits, construction and maintenance agreements, indefeasible right-of-use and collocation contracts, vessel and ROV/AUV charters and fault litigation.
Following is a summary of our related experience:
Litigation
- Y-49 Cable Anchor Drag Damage Claim: litigation of $25 million property damage claim arising from anchor drag against submerged utility electrical cable during marine construction of natural gas pipeline connection from Northport, Long Island, to Hunts Point, New York
- multiple claimants, cross-claims and counterclaims in context of shipowner's limitation proceeding
- 1385 LIPA/CL&P Cable Damage Claim: litigation of multimillion-dollar property damage claim on behalf of utility to recover repair costs and consequential damages for anchor drag incident that severed four of seven underwater cables between Northport, Long Island, and Norwalk, Connecticut; Claims filed in multiparty shipowner's limitation proceeding
- Central Hudson - PK Line Allision: litigation and trial of damages claim for severed undersea natural gas pipeline crossing the Hudson River, including recovery of emergency response, repair and overhead charges incurred by utility
- review of cable fault incidents, repairs and restoration to determine causes and potential liability, and handle related litigation
- litigation in New York representing the owners of power cables damaged by a survey vessel
Regulatory
- monitoring federal, state and international legislation and administration policy in the telecommunication, security and maritime areas
Contracts
- reviewing seller-drafted asset purchase agreements
- advised a public utility on restructuring undersea power cable maintenance and crossing agreements
Environmental
- review of environmental obligations associated with existing and planned international, federal and state licenses and permits
- review of marine ecosystem and other cable protection measures to ensure maximum value and legal compliance
Additional Areas of Experience
- representing public utility on development of 660 MW undersea DC transmission line into New York City
- international tax assistance for U.S. and foreign submarine cable owners