The latest developments in underwater technology are providing new services for inspections and surveys for salvage and wreck removal
The latest developments in underwater technology are providing new services for inspections and surveys for salvage and wreck removal.
Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) has signed a letter of intent with intelligent offshore services provider Rovco to jointly develop the next generation of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). They will introduce electric-drive, work-class ROVs to interface with Rovco’s latest computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
SMD will provide Rovco with a new Atom EV electric WROV, enabling Rovco to offer autonomous services through its technology spin-off, Vaarst.
The Atom EV WROV operates in 3 knot water currents, increasing the ROV operating window. It has a DC power system for higher efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. It will be paired with an all-electric launch and recovery system from MacArtney.
Cyprus Subsea Consulting Services has established a fleet of four M1 Seaglider autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for long-duration subsea survey and monitoring capabilities. These AUVs, acquired in February 2022, are rated to 1,000 m water depth and can be used for real-time environmental monitoring in open seas. They have sensors to acquire ocean profile data such as temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, as well as biogeochemical, biological and acoustic data.
Subsea Europe Services has gained funding to develop AUV and uncrewed surface vessels (USV) with hydroacoustic payloads. It will use this funding to focus on new AI and machine-learning-enabled and hydroacoustic units for Mantas T12 AUVs, USVs and survey motherships.
Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled its medium-sized Hugin Edge AUV. It used extensive hydrodynamic modelling to refine the hull’s low-drag shape. It has a new forward-looking sonar, designed to provide 3D sensing capabilities for improved trajectory planning and directional collision avoidance coupled to traditional forward-scanning methodology.
This Hugin is equipped with the latest open interfaces for integration to third-party planning and mission management tools.
Kongsberg also launched its EM 712 multibeam echosounder USV for seabed mapping and wreck surveys in shallow and medium water depths.
EM 712 houseselectronics and transducers in a subsea container, reducing the number of cables protruding through the USV’s hull. It is operated using Kongsberg’s seafloor information system and remotely through the Blue Insight cloud-based platform.
Norwegian manufacturer Blueye introduced its 50-cm X-3 to commercial maritime markets and Fugro demonstrated its 12-m Blue Essence USV.
Sign up now for the Offshore Energy Webinar Week, 22-30 March 2022
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.