As the world becomes more connected, the role of sustainable infrastructure has never been more critical. Subsea Cables by Telecom Review sat down with Alwyn du Plessis, Chief Executive Officer of Mertech Marine, a pioneer in the recovery and recycling of subsea cables, to discuss the company’s forward-looking vision.
With decades of experience and a deep understanding of both the technical and environmental aspects of subsea cable recovery, Alwyn du Plessis discussed how Mertech Marine is contributing to the global telecom ecosystem. From responsible cable decommissioning and supporting hyperscaler expansion to offering value-added marine services and promoting industry-wide collaboration, Mertech Marine is not only enabling the future of connectivity, but doing so sustainably.
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How do you ensure environmental compliance and minimal oceanic disturbance during the recovery of cables from international waters?
Environmental responsibility and compliance are key priorities for us across all aspects of Mertech Marine operations, particularly when it comes to cable recovery. The process begins well before any physical recovery takes place. Our business development team works closely with our environmental team to conduct a thorough due diligence assessment of the targeted cables.
This includes identifying sensitive areas such as marine protected zones and understanding the presence of other seabed users. Based on this evaluation, we adjust our plans accordingly, well in advance of any offshore activity. We carefully consider environmental, health and safety, and technical factors to ensure that our operations result in minimal disturbance to the ocean environment.
With the growing demand for digital connectivity, what trends are you observing in the frequency and volume of subsea cable decommissioning globally, and how do factors like cable lifespan, quality, and current infrastructure demands influence your operations?
Over the past decade, we’ve observed an increasing frequency in the decommissioning of subsea cables. This trend is largely tied to the natural design life of these systems, which is typically around 25 years. Many of the cables laid during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s are now reaching the end of their service life, so this uptick is expected. However, what’s also happening is that the current surge in global demand for digital capacity, driven by data-heavy technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), is accelerating the obsolescence of some cables even before they reach their full design lifespan. For instance, cables that are only 18 years old may be retired early due to the introduction of newer, higher-capacity systems. In the meantime, we are focusing on our core business, recovering out-of-service cables. Furthermore, we expect to recover the cables currently being laid in about 25 years. At the same time, we’re actively diversifying our operations and expanding the range of services we offer across the industry, all while carrying on with our day-to-day work.
As for whether cable quality or lifespan plays a bigger role, that’s not really something we get to decide.
We work with the infrastructure that exists and adapt to market conditions as they evolve. Our focus is on maintaining a balanced business, matching our recovery capabilities with factory capacity, so we can effectively manage cables coming out of service. Essentially, we spend more time forecasting and adjusting our operations to keep everything aligned, rather than worrying about factors that are ultimately out of our control.
How is Mertech Marine helping transform sustainable practices in the broader telecom and infrastructure sectors, and who are you currently working with across regions to support this mission?
We see ourselves as pioneers in the subsea cable recovery industry, and that gives us a unique position to lead the way in promoting sustainability.
Over the years, we’ve made it a priority to set examples and develop best practices through both innovation and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. We are active members and support industry-wide initiatives led by the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the European Subsea Cable Association (ESCA), and SubOptic, and we foster collaboration across the sector, from cable owners and manufacturers to other recovery operators. By sharing knowledge and lessons learned, we aim to contribute meaningfully to sustainable growth across the industry.
We work closely with major global players, including hyperscalers and traditional telecom giants across the globe. We also engage with turnkey providers of cable manufacturers and installers from the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. We maintain regular communication with the most active players in the market to ensure alignment, especially in coordinating activities like avoiding interference between cable laying and recovery operations.
Geographically, our operations span the globe. We currently operate three vessels: one switching between the Mediterranean and Atlantic and the Caribbean and South America, and one dedicated to the broader Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. We’ve worked in nearly every ocean. Our main recycling facility is in South Africa, but we also have smaller remote processing units and mobile solutions tailored to specific project needs. For example, we have a localized solution in the Philippines to support Southeast Asian operations. Additionally, we maintain transshipment hubs and cable depots in strategic locations like the Netherlands, Portugal, Jamaica, and Korea, helping us manage the global logistics needed for efficient and sustainable operations.
What role do you envision Mertech Marine playing in the evolving subsea cable ecosystem, particularly with the deployment of newer, more advanced cables for hyperscalers and cloud services?
Our core business has always been centered on the responsible recovery and recycling of out-of-service subsea cables. While the latest generation of high-capacity cables being deployed by hyperscalers and cloud providers won’t be due for recovery for another 20 to 25 years, we see our current work as laying the groundwork for that future. By recovering legacy cables, we’re not only ensuring environmental responsibility but also physically clearing and opening seabed routes, effectively creating space for the deployment of these new systems.
At the same time, we’re evolving beyond cable recovery. We’re diversifying our offerings to provide value-added marine services that support the broader industry. This includes services like shore-end removal, cable logistics, storage, and depot management. So, while the recovery of the newest cables may still be years away, our evolving business model is already contributing to the industry’s growth by supporting current and future infrastructure development.
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