An umbilical-based marine acquisition system includes an umbilical cable configured to be attached with a proximal end to a vessel and to provide compressed air to a seismic source, a sensor loaded section having plural seismic sensors distributed along a length of the sensor loaded section, the sensor loaded section being configured to be attached with a distal end to another sensor loaded section or to the seismic source, and an umbilical-sensor section connection configured to connect a distal end of the umbilical cable to a proximal end of the sensor loaded section. The umbilical-sensor section connection and the sensor loaded section are configured to transmit seismic data acquired by the plural seismic sensors to the vessel.