Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Connecting Africa: The Vital Role of the Léon Thévenin

A ship comparable in size to a football field, manned by over 50 skilled engineers and technicians, navigates the seas surrounding Africa to ensure that the continent remains connected to the digital world.

This ship performs an essential function, as demonstrated by the internet disruptions caused by undersea cable damage experienced last year.

During that period, millions of people from Lagos to Nairobi found themselves in complete digital blackout—messaging services became nonfunctional, and financial transactions were halted, affecting countless businesses and individuals.

The Léon Thévenin, the flagship responsible for repairing these multiple cable failures, has been engaged in this crucial service for 13 years. A BBC team recently embarked on a week-long journey aboard the ship off Ghana’s coast.

“Because of me, countries stay connected,” said Shuru Arendse, a South African cable jointer who has dedicated over a decade to this vessel. “IT professionals at home can perform their work because I bring the main internet feed in,” he added. “You have heroes that save lives—I consider myself a hero because I save communication.”

Arendse’s sense of pride echoes the dedication felt throughout the entire crew on board the Léon Thévenin, which stands at eight stories high and is equipped with a wide array of technological apparatus.

The internet itself relies on a network of computer servers, with this article likely being displayed through one of the 600 fiber optic cables that span the globe.

Many of these servers are housed in data centers located outside Africa, with fiber optic cables running beneath the ocean floor to connect them to cities along the continent’s coast.

Data is transmitted through thin fiberglass wires, typically arranged in pairs and protected by multiple layers of plastic and copper, depending on their proximity to shorelines. “As long as the servers aren’t situated within the country, a connection is essential. A cable facilitates communication between countries, linking users to servers where their data is stored—whether they’re accessing social media platforms or other online services,” explained Benjamin Smith, the Léon Thévenin’s deputy chief of mission.

Throughout its 13-year tenure, the Léon Thévenin has been a guardian of undersea cables.

Designed for a lifespan of 25 years with minimal maintenance, undersea fiber optic cables are often damaged by human activities. “Typically, cables don’t break on their own unless they are in areas with strong currents and sharp rocks,” noted Charles Heald, who oversees the ship’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV). He added that damage frequently occurs when boats anchor improperly or when fishing trawlers scour the seabed.

Natural disasters also contribute to cable damage, especially in regions suffering from extreme weather. Smith cited the Congo Canyon, where the Congo River flows into the Atlantic, describing how heavy rainfall and low tide create currents capable of compromising cable integrity.

Though confirmation of sabotage is challenging, the crew aboard Léon Thévenin indicated that they have not observed overt signs of this type of damage.

A year prior, three key cables in the Red Sea—Seacom, AAE-1, and EIG—were reportedly severed by a ship’s anchor, creating connectivity issues for millions in East Africa, particularly Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique.

Subsequently, in March 2024, additional breaks in the WACS, ACE, Sat-3, and MainOne cables near West Africa resulted in significant internet outages in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Liberia.

The disruptions caused widespread inconvenience, with various services requiring internet access feeling the ramifications as repair efforts extended over several weeks.

In May, further complications arose when the Seacom and Eassy cables suffered damage off South Africa’s coast, once again impacting connectivity across multiple Eastern African nations.

Identifying faults involves measuring the electrical and signal strength in the cables. “If there are 3,000 volts in a cable and this suddenly drops to 50 volts, it indicates a problem,” explained Loic Wallerand, the ship’s chief of mission.

While local teams can address faults in shallower waters, the Léon Thévenin is summoned for issues occurring beyond 50 meters in depth, and the crew is qualified to repair cables located more than 5,000 meters underwater.

The recently observed repair operations off Ghana needed over a week to complete, yet for most internet users, the disruptions went unnoticed thanks to rerouted traffic through alternate cables.

The specifics of each repair depend on the nature of the damage encountered. If the fiberglass core of a cable is compromised, data transmission ceases until it can be redirected through another line. Unfortunately, some African nations are reliant on a single cable, leaving them without internet access when it is damaged.

Even when the protective layers of the fiber optic cable are harmed, data can still transit, albeit at reduced efficiency. In both circumstances, pinpointing the exact location of the damage remains crucial.

By sending a light signal through the cable, the crew can identify the site of a break based on its point of reflection. However, if the issue resides with the cable’s insulation—a phenomenon known as a “shunt fault”—an electrical signal must then be dispatched along the cable to ascertain where it is lost.

The operation shifts to the ROV team following the identification of potential fault locations.

Resembling a robust bulldozer and weighing 9.5 tons, the ROV is deployed underwater from the ship and guided to the ocean floor by about five crew members in collaboration with a crane operator. Upon release, it maneuvers with fluidity through the water using its four thrusters.

Equipped with three cameras, the ROV helps the crew locate faults accurately. Upon discovery, the ROV employs its arms to cut the damaged section, which is subsequently tethered and pulled back to the ship.

Once aboard, the faulty segment is replaced via a splicing process that resembles welding—a task that lasted 24 hours during the operation observed by the BBC. Subsequently, the repaired cable is lowered back to the seabed, and the ROV is sent for a final inspection to ensure its proper placement and to gather coordinates for mapping updates.

When an alert signals cable damage, the Léon Thévenin’s crew is poised to set sail within 24 hours. However, response times are subject to various factors, including the ship’s present location, availability of spare cables, and administrative challenges. “Obtaining permits can be a lengthy process. Often, we must travel to the affected region and remain offshore until all documentation is settled,” Wallerand commented.

The crew typically spends over six months at sea each year. “It’s part of the job,” reflected Captain Thomas Quehec.

Amid their dedication to work, the personal sacrifices of the crew are palpable. Hailing from diverse cultural and national backgrounds—including French, South African, Filipino, and Malagasy—they each have unique stories. For instance, Adrian Morgan, the ship’s chief steward from South Africa, has missed five consecutive wedding anniversaries. “I contemplated leaving,” he admitted. “Staying away from my family was tough, but my wife motivated me. I do this for them.”

Noel Goeieman, another South African crew member, faces the possibility of missing his son’s wedding due to potential mission calls. “I’ve heard we might head to Durban soon. My son will be disappointed—he doesn’t have a mother,” confessed Mr. Goeieman, who lost his wife three years ago. However, he added with a smile, “But I’m retiring in six months.”

Despite the emotional toll these assignments can take, camaraderie exists among the crew. During downtime, they engage in video gaming in the lounge or share meals in the ship’s mess hall.

Their journeys into this profession vary as much as their backgrounds. While Goeieman followed in his father’s footsteps, Chief Cook Remario Smith chose to leave a life of crime behind. “I was involved with gangs in my youth,” he revealed. “When my child was born, I realized I needed to change my life.”

Like others on board, he appreciates the vital role the Léon Thévenin plays in connecting Africa to the global community. “We are the link between Africa and the world,” remarked Chief Engineer Ferron Hartzenberg.

You may also be interested in:

Source
www.bbc.com