New research by BGS, in collaboration with Durham University and the University of Dundee, shows that the shallow seabed of the North Sea is more geologically complex than typically represented in current cable burial approaches. The findings have important implications for how subsea cables are routed, installed and safeguarded from natural and anthropogenic hazards such as erosion, dredging and ship anchor strikes.
The study integrates over 12 000 geological records from BGS archives and the Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange, providing the most detailed regional picture to date of shallow subsurface conditions across the UK North Sea. The results show that layered soils are widespread, with most sites containing multiple layers of different soil types, often with sand overlying clay, gravel, peat or shallow bedrock.
The findings provide stronger evidence for early stage cable-route planning and risk screening, and could help inform future updates to cable-burial approaches. By moving beyond simplified seabed classifications, the project enables industry and regulators to make more informed decisions about where and how deeply offshore cables should be buried.
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