The U.K.’s Virgin Media is suing an Irish fishing trawler for over $870,000 after it alleges the vessel damaged an undersea cable in pursuit of scallops, reported Business Insider. The owners of The Lida Suzanna claim something’s “fishy” with Virgin’s accusation regarding the alleged incident over nine years ago, on January 26, 2015.
Since undersea cables are usually laid on the ocean floor, they are susceptible to damage, especially by trawlers or dragging anchors. Scallop fishing involves towing dredges along the seabed to catch shellfish, which could inadvertently damage fiber cables.
After the cable was damaged in 2015, Virgin chartered a repair ship to deploy a remotely operated vehicle to fix the break. The work took several days and slowed internet service. According to The International Cable Protection Committee, repairing a damaged wire could cost over $3 million.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Virgin Media’s lawyers argued that the defendants should have been aware of the cable’s location, as it was marked on industry-recognized charts and Ireland’s Marine Atlas. The defendants retorted that there was no proof that The Lida Suzanna had caused damage, and even if it had, Virgin would still be responsible for repairing the cable since it was not protected or buried.
According to Business Insider, Virgin Media is attempting to recoup some of the “significant damage” cost and create a teachable moment. A spokesperson for Virgin said, “As a business with millions of customers who rely on fast and reliable connectivity, we hope that through taking this action, third parties will be better aware of the cost that can be involved and disruption it can cause when our cables are damaged.”
Reader Interactions