IWAT - Intrusion Watch

Critical subsea infrastructure, such as power and communication cables, is a vital component of Belgium's energy supply and connectivity. At the same time, the risks of sabotage, accidental damage, and hybrid threats are increasing. Today, there is a lack of sufficient operational datasets and validated detection methods to rapidly and reliably identify such incidents.

IWAT therefore develops and demonstrates an innovative solution for detecting intrusions around subsea cables and other critical maritime infrastructure. The project uses Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), turning fibre-optic cables into a sensor network to detect sabotage, anchor strikes, diver activity, and other potential disturbances. A controlled offshore test campaign will generate datasets and validate detection algorithms under realistic conditions.

Goal

IWAT aims to demonstrate how Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) can help protect critical subsea infrastructure by enabling the early detection of intrusions and disturbances.

Method

During an offshore test campaign, a fibre-optic cable will be used as a sensor. Realistic intrusion scenarios will be carried out and analysed to validate detection methods and build a unique dataset for future applications.

Expected impact

In addition to improving the protection of maritime infrastructure, IWAT will generate a unique dataset for further research and future applications in maritime security, offshore energy, and defence.