UK spearheads subsea cable damage penalties

ChatGPT Image Jun 1, 2026, 11_42_10 AM

The UK government will impose tougher penalties on shipowners and operators who intentionally or recklessly damage subsea cables amid mounting concern across Europe over the vulnerability of underwater infrastructure.

The proposals, announced by UK Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) last week, would replace legislation dating back to the Victorian era.

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