Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

This professional diploma introduces you to the invisible infrastructure that underpins the internet and the energy transition: subsea telecommunications and power cables. You will study how routes are planned, how cables are manufactured, laid and buried, how they are repaired, what legal protection they enjoy and how they are defended against accidental damage and threats to critical infrastructure.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure?

This professional diploma introduces you to the invisible infrastructure that underpins the internet and the energy transition: subsea telecommunications and power cables. You will learn how the global subsea cable market works, apply route and seabed surveys, understand cable laying, burial and protection, and implement security and surveillance measures, preparing you for a technical niche with high demand and few specialists.

What sets this professional diploma apart: telecommunications and power in a single program, covering fiber-optic and power cables; a marine operations perspective on cable ships, ploughs, ROVs and repairs; a focus on infrastructure security against anchors, fishing and deliberate acts; the legal framework of UNCLOS and the international protection of cables; and a practical case in which you design a complete subsea cable project.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Telecommunications and power: fiber-optic and power cables in a single program.
  • Marine operations: cable ships, ploughs, ROVs and repairs.
  • Infrastructure security: protection against anchors, fishing and deliberate acts.
  • Legal framework: UNCLOS and the international protection of cables.
  • Growing sector: power interconnectors, offshore wind and new data cables.
  • Practical case: a subsea cable project from route to maintenance.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

The Subsea Cable Industry

  • 1.1. History of subsea cables
  • 1.2. Internet traffic and dependence on cables
  • 1.3. Power cables and electricity interconnectors
  • 1.4. Stakeholders: operators, manufacturers and installers
  • 1.5. Market and new projects
  • 1.6. Landing points and data centers
  • 1.7. Global resilience and redundancy
  • 1.8. Sector trends
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Telecommunications and Power Cable Technology

  • 2.1. Fiber optics and transmission systems
  • 2.2. Repeaters and power feeding
  • 2.3. AC and DC cables
  • 2.4. Dynamic cables for floating renewables
  • 2.5. Armouring and protection
  • 2.6. Manufacturing and testing
  • 2.7. Service life and degradation
  • 2.8. Fiber sensors for monitoring
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Route and Seabed Surveys

  • 3.1. Desktop study and route selection
  • 3.2. Geophysical and geotechnical campaigns
  • 3.3. Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides and currents
  • 3.4. Crossings with other cables and pipelines
  • 3.5. Fishing and anchoring areas
  • 3.6. Environmentally sensitive areas
  • 3.7. Burial design
  • 3.8. Route documentation
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Installation and Burial

  • 4.1. Cable ships and their equipment
  • 4.2. Installation planning
  • 4.3. Laying in deep and shallow water
  • 4.4. Ploughs, water jetting and trenchers
  • 4.5. Rock dumping and mattress protection
  • 4.6. Shore landing and horizontal directional drilling
  • 4.7. Use of ROVs during installation
  • 4.8. Quality control and documentation
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Maintenance, Faults and Repair

  • 5.1. Causes of faults: fishing, anchors and natural phenomena
  • 5.2. Fault location
  • 5.3. Maintenance agreements between operators
  • 5.4. Repair operations at sea
  • 5.5. Repair times and their impact
  • 5.6. Spares and depots
  • 5.7. Periodic inspection
  • 5.8. Service life management
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Legal Framework and Permits

  • 6.1. Cables under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
  • 6.2. Freedom to lay cables and its limits
  • 6.3. Criminal law protection of cables
  • 6.4. Permits in territorial waters and the EEZ
  • 6.5. Environmental assessment
  • 6.6. Relationship with fishing and navigation
  • 6.7. European regulation of critical infrastructure
  • 6.8. Industry recommendations
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure

  • 7.1. Accidental and deliberate threats
  • 7.2. Maritime surveillance and AIS
  • 7.3. Acoustic and fiber-based monitoring
  • 7.4. Cooperation between operators and authorities
  • 7.5. Protecting landing points
  • 7.6. National resilience plans
  • 7.7. Crisis management for mass outages
  • 7.8. Lessons from recent incidents
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Practical Case: A Subsea Cable Project

  • 8.1. Defining the project
  • 8.2. Preliminary route selection
  • 8.3. Route risk analysis
  • 8.4. Selecting the cable type and protection
  • 8.5. Installation plan
  • 8.6. Permitting plan
  • 8.7. Maintenance and security plan
  • 8.8. Final report
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

01Understand the subsea cable system: describe cable types, components and network architecture.
02Plan routes: apply geophysical surveys and route risk analysis.
03Understand installation: describe the vessels, equipment and procedures for laying and burial.
04Manage repairs: plan fault location and repair operations.
05Apply the legal framework: interpret international protection and national permits.
06Protect the infrastructure: design surveillance, prevention and resilience measures.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

01Subsea cable project engineerwith operators and installers.
02Route planning technicianroute and seabed surveys.
03Marine operations coordinatorinstallation and repair.
04Critical infrastructure protection specialistsecurity and resilience.
05Permitting and environmental technicianproject consenting.
06Subsea networks consultanttelecommunications and power.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure

Yes. Both are studied, with their technical differences and their specific operations.

Yes. Inter-array and export cables are a critical part of any offshore wind farm.

Yes. One module deals with critical infrastructure protection and cooperation with the authorities.

It is recommended, although people with legal and security profiles can follow the program without difficulty.

You design a subsea cable project, from the route through to its maintenance.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with a practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at telecommunications and electrical engineers working on networks and power systems, naval architects and officers of specialist vessels interested in cable ships, offshore wind and interconnector professionals who manage power cables, security and defense specialists focused on critical infrastructure protection, and lawyers and public administration staff who deal with cable permits and protection. A technical degree in telecommunications, electrical, naval or civil engineering or marine sciences, a nautical or legal background, or professional experience in the maritime, energy or telecommunications sectors, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $424 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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