Underwater Vehicles
UNDERWATER
Vehicles ROV hat-trick nets $2.5 million Sub-Atlantic has delivered its third ROV system in five months, in deals totalling $2.5million. SeaROV Services has taken delivery of a new Super Mohawk light intervention system which is capable of carrying out observation, survey, pipelay support and non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection operations at depths of up to 2000m. Earlier this year, SubAtlantic delivered another Super Mohawk to Mako Technologies as well as a Mohican system to a subsea contractor working in Asia. The Super Mohawk, which is capable of carrying a 60kg payload, is equipped with multiple camera and sensor interfaces, AC propulsion thrusters and live boat or tether management system (TMS) operation. Paul Watson, sales manager with SubAtlantic Inc, said: “The first two quarters of 2009 have been very successful for us and delivery of the Super Mohawk marks what we hope will be the beginning of a long and rewarding partnership between Sub-Atlantic and SeaROV.” SeaROV president Jay Domangue said: “The size and versatility of Super Mohawk is a great solution for servicing clients for inspection, maintenance and repair tasks globally, allowing them to utilise a full sensor package whilst also carrying out work tasks.” The Super Mohawk with tether management system
Proof of Concept The southwest regional maintenance center (SWRMC) invited Seabotix to Pago Pago in American Samoa to establish a proof of concept for a new underwater battle damage repair (UBDR) function. During this assessment, the Seabotix LBV assisted mobile diving and salvage unit one (MDSU ONE) divers with a deep survey on a sunken WWII navy oiler USS Chehahlis. During the survey, the underwater LBV video feed was broadcast live worldwide using an Oceaneering satellite uplink system which had been loaded into the ROV system prior to departure from San Diego. This unique video feature enabled officials at COMPACFLT, COMSEVENTHFLT, USCG Command Pacific, SWRMC, San Diego, NAVSEA 00C, Washington, DC and MDSUONE to review the ROV footage in real time.
UT2 AUGUST 2009
In addition, the SWRMC ROV dive team recorded over 20 hours of critical underwater footage including a survey of the wreck’s keel, the condition of the ships aft wheel house and the structural integrity of the main cargo holds. They were also able to analyse the hull plating to ascertain whether the vessel could be successfully hot tapped – removing oil from the ship’s fuel tanks into barges moored on the surface, avoiding future pollution and contamination of one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours.
The USS Chehahlis sank in Pago-Pago harbour in 1949 following a fuel explosion at the island’s only refuelling pier. The ship initially came to rest in 30ft of water, but has gradually drifted down the steep slope of the harbour bottom to its final resting place in 160ft of water. The LBV operation established a rapid response capability to mobilise the vehicle, along with two divers, to a remote site and transmit a live underwater video feed. This took a total travel and setup of only 12 hours from the time divers left SWRMC until they deployed the ROV over the side. “The cost savings using the LBV system – as opposed to flying a full Navy dive team of 10 to 15 persons as well as hundreds of pounds of dive equipment saved an enormous amount,” said a spokesman. “The ROV system gives us capability to assess hull and structural damage in order to
32
make critical repair decisions in hours instead of days,” he continued. “It also permits us to communicate their intentions immediately to various Fleet counterparts.”
Taiwan Nuclear Power Plant recently used their newly acquired LBV150N system to verify the integrity of their reactor cooling tank. Operating in a low radiation area, the LBV inspected the cooling tank for signs of leakage and areas in need of repair.
Nuclear ROV