OBSEA: A Cabled Seafloor Observatory at the Spanish Mediterranean Coast Marc Nogueras1, Jaume Piera 2, Carola Artero1, Jordi Sorribas 2, Joaquín del Rio1, Antoni Mànuel1, Arturo Castellon2, J. Santamaria1, and J.J. Danobeitia2

1) www.cdsarti.org 2) www.utm.es

Introduction

Deployment and cable installation

Architecture

Results

Future works

Abstract

The implementation of submarine sensors at regional scalehas been considered within the ESFRI Roadmap as aEuropean strategic infrastructure. In this sense EuropeanUnion has funded projects as ESONET and EMSO that areinitiatives to establish a network of long-term deep seaobservatories. Within this framework, Spanish Ministry ofScience and Innovation has made an effort, supporting andfunding several projects concerning marine platforms atsubmarine and coastal areas to accomplish thesetechnological challenges.The OBSEA submarine platform was deployed by the BOSarmiento de Gamboa last 19th May, since then is workingproperly and only some adjustments have been needed. Inthis initial period the submarine laboratory OBSEA will beavailable for ESONET and EMSO communities for testing anddeveloping new sensors, with the advantage of an easilyreachable location and online checking through web page.

The main goal of the OBSEA is to provide a relatively low costinfrastructure for easy technological test bed and development ofnew sensor with the aim to extend it with more nodes to a regionaldeep sea observatory, and alongside real time monitoring of somephysical parameters.

The Objectives

The OBSEA is a pioneer singular installation in Spain, and in this first phase willhave a double mission: To start with a multi-parametric observation system,appropriate for environmental research and to provide a test-bed site to draw theattention of marine engineers, scientists and small to medium sized enterprises(SMES) in offshore technology.

The Mission

Main Components FundamentalsSHORESimple and reliable standard network protocols. TCP/IP overethernet.1+1 optical trunk line at 1GbpsUp to 320V and 11 Amps of direct current, 3.6kW powersupply

SUBSEA NODEConnectivity of multiple oceanographic instruments in keyplaces.8 wet-mateable external instrumentsup to 3 amps at 12 or 48V per instrument10/100Mbps Ethernet connection

Vilanova i la Geltrú (SPAIN)

Fishing protected area

(biotopes 3x3 m)

Cable with buoyancy towed to shore by a Pilot boat

Land

Station

Main

cylinder

High Voltage

Power Supply

Buoy

up to 1500Vdc

0,8 Amps

Cabled Sensor

1500v to 300v

DC/DC converter

Up to

1500Vdc300Vdc

12 or

48Vdc

Integrated

Sensor

Up to 8 Oceanographic

Instruments

First submarine station

Next submarine

stations

Next submarine

stations

Up to 1500Vdc

Installing the stainless steel Structure

Cable land end installation at shore station.

Panoramic View

Data Acquisition & Control

Access to historical data sets

1513

1515

1517

1519

1521

1523

1525

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

25/05 26/05 27/05 28/05 29/05 30/05 31/05 01/06 02/06 03/06

Temperature (ºC)

Sound Velocity (m/s)

(ºC)(m/s)

19,2

19,3

19,4

19,5

19,6

19,7

19,8

37,45

37,5

37,55

37,6

37,65

37,7

37,75

37,8

37,85

37,9

25/05 26/05 27/05 28/05 29/05 30/05 31/05 01/06 02/06 03/06

Salinity (PSU)

Pressure (dBar)

(PSU) (dBar)

Phase 1

Phase 2

Pilot Node (3km 20m)

Ground Station

Canyó de Coma-Ruga

(15km 500m)

Clot del Vinyet

(22km 1000m)

Canyó del Foix

(18km 1300m)Underwater camera

Instruments protected of external manipulationSupport Structure

Phase 1:Pilot boat pulling the cable to the shoreline(1.5 km at 1m/s)Ship standing at site with DP facilitiesOnboard people put buoyancy into cable (170 buoys)Scuba dive activity: Remove and recover buoys. Cable verificationOnshore activity: Deployment of the firsts 200 m of cable atshore into a concrete protection pipe.

Phase 2:Cable connection to the land anchorage pointShip pulling cable at very slow speedDeployment of 3000 m of cable

Phase 3:Cable connection to junction boxFinal cable installation to the precise location with the help ofscuba divers

Ship with Dynamic Position System

Multibeam detailed bathymetry for mapping the cable path

Onsite recognition by scuba divers

Absolute care with the cable strength during all maneuvering phases

Phase 3

Keys for the success

Possible expansion to more deeper locations

SeaBird CTD InstrumentBjorge Naxys Ethernet hydrophoneOcean Presence underwater IP camera system

Submarine cable

Main box

Oceanographic

Instruments

Adaptation Cable

CTD

Subsea nodeDC/DC 300/48 DC/DC 48/12

Eth. Control signalsDC selector

Control System

ColdFire Based

IP 192.168.1.36

48

4

Switch 1

Hydrophone

WET - MATEABLE

Connectors

Splice box

Switch 2

IP Camera

IP: 192.168.1.172

IP: 192.168.1.171

IP: 10.0.0.88

IP: 192.168.1.70

IP: 192.168.1.71

Auxiliar link and reset

IP: 192.168.1.60

Lat: 41°10'53.82"N

Long: 1°45'8.40"E

The IP connection to the instruments allowsreal time data visualization, easily accessiblefrom the OBSEA website and for controlapplications.Data management system is ongoing and willallocate access to historical data using friendlyweb-based interfaces.

The OBSEA project is funding by the Ministry of Science and Innovation(MICINN) through the“Plan Nacional I+D+I” project: CAC-2007-09, and the “Planes Parques Tecnológicos” projects:PCT-310100-2007-1, PCT-310100-2006-3, and PCT-310100-2005-2.The authors acknowledge the support of the Telefonica, and Prysmian Cables y Sistemas, and aspecial mention to “ESONET for fruitful inputs concerning engineering questions…”

Acknowledgement

At short term the observatory can be easily broadened simplyadding cable segments and new junction boxes.

At medium term new extensions for the deep seafloor require thatthe cylinder with the payloads needs to be certified for higherpressures environment.

Remote Instrument controlWEB Real Time data access

Main operations ship. BO SARMIENTO DE GAMBOADynamic Positioning System

Deployed cable path adjustment