SEABED SURVEYING TAKING A
Whenever divers work the associated risks are reflected in their cost to the customer and for simple inspection jobs these may be hard to justify. If an inspection is needed to reveal the condition of a Tekmar seal, for example, or the extent of scouring around a bell mouth, a diver’s report may also not be as useful as a service that enables the customer to see the situation for himself on an ROV’s video or imaging sonar. Small ROVs can make this possible and when the service provider specialises in windfarm support it will have the expertise needed to meet the customer’s needs with the minimum of cost and disruption.
FEATURE SPONSOR
CLOSER LOOK
Windfarm operators are rapidly discovering the advantages of using small ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) instead of divers for inspections and simple physical tasks.
LATEST ROV CAPABILITY Despite their small size, the latest observation class ROVs can have a power and versatility that enables them to tackle a wide range of tasks in sea conditions that would be inaccessible to divers. Enhanced video technology can overcome poor visibility while special cameras can see fluorescent dyes that reveal leaking seals or grout. Even the murkiest water can be penetrated by sonar imagery so engineers can see a situation for themselves before deciding on a course of action.
IN DETAIL
Charlie Foll is Managing Director of Atlantas Marine which has been specialising in windfarm support for several years. “Our smallest ROV (VideoRay Pro4) is barely larger than a shoe box yet during turbine construction it can carry a messenger wire from a cable-ship and through the monopile. It can also carry a probe to test the cathodic protection system, or use a small manipulator arm to recover marine growth samples for analysis. If the marine growth needs to be removed, a larger Ocean Modules V8 ROV equipped with a pressure cleaner can do the job.
This ROV’s unique 360 degree manoeuvrability makes cleaning more efficient while its ability to settle on an inclined J-tube can give precise measurements of its angle.”
OVERCOMING MAJOR CHALLENGES With costs and efficiency always taking top priority, Atlantas Marine is now demonstrating effective techniques that overcome major challenges during the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
Atlantas Marine
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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