ROV inspection
ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) inspection is a rather challenging task to perform correctly and efficiently. You need to have a good understanding of the equipment, its capabilities and of course the environment in which the task is done. Our procedure is as follows: first we conduct a multibeam survey of the targeted object and its surroundings. This gives us a base map of the area, seabed features, potentially dangerous objects that could jeopardize the entire operation (you don’t want your umbilical stuck in an shipwreck or something…).
After that, we are not “blind” when we operate the ROV itself, because it is much easier to navigate on the seabed with such a map. For navigation we use GNSS RTK satellite positioning combined with a USBL (Ultra Short Base Line) system which monitors the ROV’s position in real time. For better results the USBL is augmented with external roll/pitch sensors of great accuracy. Also the average sound velocity in the seawater column is measured to assure the best possible position. ROV inspection after these steps is a much more relaxed operation because the pilot always knows where it is in relation to the target object and it’s aware of hazardous areas (which it should avoid). The aim of this presentation and demonstration is to show how it’s done and what needs to be done so that the inspection runs smoothly.