Despite growing recognition of the need to monitor the global ocean circulation, existing sensor networks are unable to observe certain key parts of the world ocean (see Figure 1). One such choke point is in the Indonesian seas, where the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) flows from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean as an upper branch of the overturning circulation. To properly understand the role the ITF plays in the climate system, longer‐term measurements are required on decadal time scales and beyond. The Indonesian seas currently are not sampled on a regular basis because the Argo float network is not able to operate in this extremely complicated marginal sea environment.Since 2008, an international program called the Indonesian Throughflow: Pacific Source Water Investigation (PACSWIN [You et al., 2010]) has sought to fill this gap in the global ocean observing network. PACSWIN is a coordinated multinational ocean climate program that will be active in the Indonesian seas and adjacent regions for the coming decade and beyond. The cable component of PACSWIN, which also has other components, promises to meet the need for a cost‐effective long‐term monitoring system, in addition to providing a more diverse set of supporting and supplementary measurements. This cable component was the subject of a 9–10 September 2009 workshop, the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR)‐endorsed First PACSWIN Submarine Cable Workshop, held in Taipei, Taiwan (for more information, visit http://sol.oc/ntu.edu.tw/PACSWIN/index.htm). An implementation plan currently is being developed.