Supporting the safe, reliable and efficient design and installation of subsea power and telecommunications cables
Intertek Metoc's multidisciplinary Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA) services team combines geophysical, geotechnical, cable installation and marine risk experience to help you define robust burial strategies, optimise protection solutions and minimise whole‑life cost and risk exposure.
Supporting safe and reliable subsea cable systems
Subsea cables operate in complex and dynamic marine environments, where external factors such as fishing activity, vessel anchoring, seabed mobility and geohazards can significantly impact integrity and availability. A structured CBRA provides the technical basis for setting appropriate cable burial depths, determining where additional protection is required and demonstrating that risks have been reduced to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
Intertek Metoc works with developers and TSOs across the full project lifecycle – from early route development and consent support through detailed design, installation and operation – to ensure that burial strategies remain technically robust, defensible and commercially efficient.
Technical excellence and independent assurance
Intertek Metoc brings deep domain knowledge in marine geoscience and subsea engineering together with proven risk assessment methodologies. We understand the interface between cable design, seabed conditions, installation practice and long‑term operation, and we translate complex technical information into clear, defensible recommendations for your project teams and stakeholders.
As an independent advisor, we help project owners and contractors demonstrate due diligence, justify design and protection decisions, and manage risk in a transparent and traceable way. Our teams work collaboratively with your engineers, survey contractors and installation partners to ensure that CBRA outcomes are practical, achievable and aligned with project objectives.
What is a Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA)?
A Intertek Metoc CBRA is a structured assessment used to determine appropriate burial depths and protection measures for subsea cables. It evaluates the soil characteristics, environmental and human‑activity related threats, then recommends burial and protection solutions to reduce risk to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
At what stage of a project should a CBRA be carried out?
Intertek Metoc team would advise that a CBRA is most effective when started following the marine route survey and refined through detailed design. It is typically updated before installation, and can be revisited during operation if new data, design changes or changes in marine activity occur.
What data do you need to perform a CBRA?
A CBRA usually draws on geophysical and geotechnical survey data, bathymetry, seabed mobility assessments and information on marine users such as fishing and shipping from AIS and VMS data. Intertek Metoc can work with existing datasets, advise on survey requirements or help specify new investigations where necessary.
How does a CBRA support regulatory and stakeholder engagement?
A well‑documented CBRA provides a transparent, evidence‑based justification for burial depths and protection measures. This helps demonstrate due diligence to regulators, insurers and other stakeholders, and supports consent applications, safety case development and commercial discussions.
What are the benefits of using Intertek Metoc for CBRA?
Intertek Metoc combines geoscience, cable installation and marine risk expertise to deliver practical, defensible outcomes. We focus on solutions that balance safety, reliability and cost, helping you minimise the likelihood and impact of cable damage while avoiding unnecessary over‑protection.