The Léon Thévenin, a football field-sized ship, plays an essential role in keeping Africa connected by repairing undersea internet cables that are often damaged by human activities and natural disasters. With a team of over 50 skilled professionals onboard, they respond quickly to cable faults, ensuring minimal disruption to internet services across the continent.
Heroes of Connectivity: The Léon Thévenin Ship Rescues Africa from Internet Blackouts
Heroes of Connectivity: The Léon Thévenin Ship Rescues Africa from Internet Blackouts
A crucial vessel, the Léon Thévenin, journeys the African seas, spearheaded by a dedicated crew of engineers, to repair undersea cables and ensure continuous internet service for millions.
The Léon Thévenin, a vessel the size of a football field, sails the shores of Africa, manned by a committed crew of over 50 engineers and technicians dedicated to maintaining internet connectivity for millions across the continent. The ship, with a rich history of 13 years in cable repairs, responds to incidents similar to the internet blackout that left countries from Lagos to Nairobi incapacitated due to damaged undersea cables.
“The work I do keeps countries connected,” states Shuru Arendse, a South African cable jointer who has spent over a decade aboard the Léon Thévenin. His dedication highlights the significance of their mission, reminiscent of saving lives. Each crew member expresses pride in their role, contributing significantly to a vessel that stands eight stories tall, equipped with specialized technology essential for their tasks.
Internet relies on a complex network of servers. Understandably, if the servers are situated outside of Africa, reliable connectivity is critical. As Benjamin Smith, the ship's deputy chief of mission, explains, cables link users to data stored on remote servers, and the ship plays a crucial role in maintaining this connection.
Undersea cables, designed for 25 years of service, typically fail due to human interference. Charles Heald, the ship's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) supervisor, explains that most issues result from anchoring violations or trawlers scraping the seabed. Weather-related incidents and extreme sea conditions contribute as well, as witnessed off the coast of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In March 2024, the severing of three vital cables in the Red Sea adversely impacted connectivity across East Africa, necessitating urgent repairs. Subsequent failures in Wacs, Ace, Sat-3, and MainOne cables further affected nations including Nigeria and Ghana, leaving many without internet access for weeks.
The detection of faults involves assessing electricity and signal strength within the cables, with indicators of damage prompting a swift response from the Léon Thévenin. In situations where local teams cannot operate beyond 50m in depth, the ship takes over with capabilities to repair cables buried more than 5,000m under the ocean.
The BBC team witnessed the repair process off Ghana, which typically requires a week, although most users remain unaware as traffic is redirected during repairs. The nature of repairs can vary; if the core's fibreglass is shattered, data transmission is halted until it's rerouted, while damage to protective layers still allows reduced efficiency.
When cables break, the crew seeks the precise faults by sending light signals or electrical currents to track issues. The ROV is deployed to locate and repair the affected sections, followed by a meticulous replacement and re-launch of the cable into the ocean floor.
Upon receiving alerts for cable damage, the Léon Thévenin is prepared to set sail within 24 hours, although factors like location, availability of replacement cables, and bureaucratic delays can complicate response times.
With six months spent at sea each year, crew members like Adrian Morgan and Noel Goeieman share personal sacrifices, missing moments like anniversaries and significant family events. Yet camaraderie shines through as they bond over shared meals and downtime activities, driven by diverse paths that led them to this unique profession.
As chief engineer Ferron Hartzenberg notes, “We are the link between Africa and the world,” encapsulating the vital service the Léon Thévenin provides while underscoring the collective commitment of its crew to keep the continent digitally connected.
