Seabed mobility has the potential to occur on beaches, in the nearshore, and offshore, wherever there are surficial sediments which can respond to local metocean conditions.

This report provides industry guidance to support the assessment of seabed mobility for projects planning to install assets on or under the seabed where knowledge is required of expected changes in the seabed profile over the lifetime of a project.

Without such knowledge, projects may face an increased risk of assets being more vulnerable to damage or failure. For example, cables are often buried under the seabed for protection against damage from external threats, such as anchors, however, in areas susceptible to a high level of seabed mobility, the probability of buried cables becoming exposed over their operating period is increased.

Application of this guidance aims to improve project awareness of areas with a mobile seabed and the ability to predict future seabed levels, with this knowledge informing requirements for cable burial or provisions to protect other assets which may be vulnerable to a change in the seabed profile.

Notably, this guidance aims to fulfil the link with other guidance, recommend practice and design standards which call for an assessment of seabed mobility.