Catch fish... not cables!
Telecom New Zealand Limited has Operational and Maintenance responsibilities for a number of International Submarine Cables which come ashore in the Auckland area.
These cables supply International telecommunications for both New Zealand and Australia to the rest of the world. The protection of these cables is paramount to their many owners, of which Telecom is one. These cables are laid in three submarine cable corridors in the greater Auckland area where anchoring or fishing is prohibited under the Submarine Cable & Pipeline Protection Act.
These areas are:
• Muriwai Beach out to the 12 mile territorial limit where both anchoring and fishing is prohibited.
• Scott Point to Island Bay in the upper Waitemata Harbour where anchoring is prohibited.
• Takapuna Beach this runs from Takapuna Beach in the south to just north of the Hen & Chicken Island (opposite Taiharuru Head) where anchoring and fishing is prohibited.
Note: These protected areas are monitored by sea & air patrols.
For more detail please refer to appropriate marine charts.
SYMBOLS RELATING TO SUBMARINE CABLES
 These are some of the penalties
• A maximum fine of $20,000 for a non-commercial vessel.
• A maximum fine of $100,000 for a commercial vessel.
• A maximum fine of $250,000 for damaging a submarine cable.
Additional to the fine for damage, the cable owners would inevitably pursue the recover of costs associated with repairs, this could be up to $750,000 plus a day; a typical repair can take up to two weeks (around $10 million).
Be Aware
These International submarine cables carry up to 10,000 volts to power the system repeaters along the cable.
What should you do?
- If you are going into any of these areas, be sure to check your marine charts and/or GPS plotter so you know the exact locations of the prohibited zones. The relevant charts re NZ53, NZ5322, NZ532, NZ522, NZ52, NZ42 and NZ43. The symbols used to mark the zones are detailed in Figure 1.
- If you suspect you have snagged your anchor or fishing gear on a submarine cable in one of these areas, don’t try o free it. Note your position, abandon your gear, then contact Telecom.
What happens outside the prohibited areas?
These cables are covered by the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act regardless of whether they are inside or outside a prohibited area. Beyond the confines of the “anchoring and fishing prohibited” areas, the cables are clearly marked on the appropriate marine charts.
Considering possible positioning inaccuracies and repaired cable section deviations, fishermen are advised to keep a minimum distance of one nautical mile from either side of charted cables.
Note this number for any queries regarding submarine cables:
Call: 0800-SUBMARINE or 0800-782 627
Don’t risk your life, or a hefty fine, for an anchor.
 Keep clear of submarine cables!
Vector and UnitedNetworks own a number of submarine cables in the Auckland region in the locations shown on the maps to the right.
Damaging a cable has the potential to cause serious injury or death to you or your passengers. Furthermore, it could disrupt the power supply and lead to a prosecution under the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Act. That’s why boaties are not permitted to anchor or fish over cable routes.
The prohibited zones are clearly identified by markers where they enter and leave the water. Cable routes are also marked on marine charts.
If you’re going boating, check your charts to make sure you know the exact locations of the prohibited zones.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SNAG A CABLE?
- If, after taking all reasonable precautions, you think you have snagged your anchor or fishing gear on a Vector or UnitedNetworks submarine cable, DO NOT TRY TO FREE IT.
- Note your position and abandon your gear. Then call us on 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867) or 0800 948 100 with the details. We may retrieve your gear or reimburse the cost of replacement.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR DAMAGING
A CABLE?
- It is an offence to damage a submarine cable; anyone convicted of doing so could be fined up to $250,000.
- In addition, you are liable for the recovery of repair costs by Vector, which can easily reach $100,000.
- Vector cables can be carrying up to 33,000 volts and snagging one could cause serious injury or even death.
DON’T FORGET TO WATCH FOR OVERHEAD LINES
- Always assume an overhead line is an electricity line and that it is ‘live’.
Take a boat’s mast down when launching, towing or bringing up a boat ramp to prevent the mast from coming in contact with an electricity line.
For Cook Strait Cable Protection Zone map - Click Here
For Cook Strait Cable Protection Zone info - Click Here |
