ROVOP Limited, (“Rovop”) an independent operator of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), is to immediately increase its fleet by 50% to meet ongoing customer demand following a funding boost of £56m.

UK-based Rovco has successfully completed a subsea cable survey and inspection for the world’s largest and most technologically advanced offshore renewables test site, Wave Hub.

The Underwater Centre, one of the world’s leading providers of subsea testing and training, based on the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe in Fort William, has successfully delivered two bespoke ROV and Hyperbaric System Acquaintance training courses as well as providing 19 days of operational support to JFD, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, as part of their training delivery to one of the world’s largest navies.

Pixel, the First Product in Series of the Cinema Class ROVs, Enables DPs and Storytellers to Capture Cinema-Quality Footage beyond SCUBA Depths by Merging Top Cinema Technologies with Advanced Underwater Filming Techniques

The Integra AUV/ROV builds on Aquabotix’s hybrid technology, and is designed for missions across several sectors, including law enforcement, research, environmental assessment and defense Underwater vehicle is single-person deployable, battery-operated and enables greater cost efficiency for users.

The Korean Coast Guard has ordered a Saab Seaeye Falcon for undersea investigations and research. This follows the sinking of the ferry MV Sewol in 2014, resulting in the deaths of 304 passengers, mostly schoolchildren, that generated a need for more response resources including underwater robotic vehicles.

Two secondary schools local to Aberdeen, (Culsh and Inverurie) are each seeking a mentor to assist their respective teams in the MATE international robotics competition (Marine Advanced Technology Education). The competition is stewarded in Scotland by Robert Gordon University. A mentor (not necessarily a technologist) would offer guidance to a student team to refine clear thinking, offer suggestions where appropriate and of course offer encouragement in building and developing their entry. It is suggested an initial visit and 1 or 2 hours per month, but essentially be available by phone or email.

UK Subsea company Rovco has secured a six-figure investment from London-based Sustainable Ventures to help fast-track its ambitious growth plans. The investment will support Bristol-based Rovco as it enhances its range of subsea AI and 3D services and captures a larger share of the global offshore survey market. Through its Accelerator programme, Sustainable Ventures will also assist Rovco in building a high-profile team of industry focused non-executive directors and advisors, while supporting on additional raises of up to £3m over the next two years.

ROV Planet Magazine Issue 13: The magazine of choice for Subsea Construction and ROV Professionals. Featuring ROV Technology Advances Through Global Oceaneering Mission Support Centers – Pulling Their Weight: Why Active Heave Compensation is Crucial for Today's ROV Operations – Contain-A-LARS: An All In One Plug&Play ROV Deployment Solution – Female American Students Explore Future of Robotics – Seadrone Introduces Inspector 2.0 – Poster – DWTek I-90 ROV Demo – 3U Technologies Supporting the USS Indianapolis Project – Big Winners at 2017 International MATE Underwater Competition – Seismic Acquisition Using Autonomous Vehicles – iXBlue DriX: Safer Stronger Versatile – The International Ocean Science and Technology Industry Association (IOSTIA) Launches.

UK subsea company Rovco has been awarded a three-year contract to support one of the world’s largest offshore windfarms, Gwynt y Môr, which lies eight miles off the coast of North Wales in the UK. Rovco will be providing its ground breaking underwater ROV 3D visual survey solution, alongside traditional video, blueview sonar and cathodic protection analysis techniques.

Scientists return on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor after conducting underwater robotic dives in never before visited waters in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Seventeen underwater robotic dives have been made using ROV SuBastian, completing the first expedition of the islands and eastern seamounts of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in the nation of Kiribati. This follows an initial exploration of the western seamounts by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. “This journey was in the tradition of the grand research expeditions of the past,” said Chief Scientist Dr. Erik Cordes from Temple University. “We traveled nearly 3,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean and explored a part of the world that has remained entirely hidden from view until now.”

A mission to search for the wreckage of an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which crashed into the Atlantic earlier this year killing all four crew members, was supported with underwater locating equipment from Sonardyne International Ltd.

UK-based subsea company Rovco has announced plans to take artificial intelligence (AI) to new depths after being selected to join the NVIDIA Inception Programme. Designed to nurture start-ups that are revolutionising industries with advances in AI and data science, the virtual incubator programme supports members overcome critical stages of product development, prototyping, and deployment. Being selected by NVIDIA will see Rovco benefit from hardware grants, marketing support and training to aid the development of the firm’s range of underwater robotics and subsea inspection techniques.

Two Saab Seaeye Tiger robotic vehicles are to work in the radioactive ponds at the Sellafield nuclear site. They were chosen because their proven thruster reliability is vitally important in a highly corrosive environment where maintenance intervention is hazardous to humans.

Well-known for offering bespoke training in commercial diving and ROV operations to a range of clients worldwide, The Underwater Centre has recently noticed a real expansion in their client base for ROV training to companies outside the oil and gas sector.

The systems are one Atom and three Quasar work class ROVs plus one Lynx eyeball ROV. These, coupled with Shelf's existing Panther XTP zone rated ROV will give us a handy fleet of capable and diverse ROV’s.

Dedicated deck equipment engineers at Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) have successfully completed work on an electric drive dual-purpose winch and Launch and Recovery System (LARS) to accompany an order from Shanghai Salvage for a Quasar Work Class ROV. The equipment will be used for salvage operations in deep waters around the world, with an assured maximum working depth up to 6000m.

“New York is a diamond Iceberg floating in river water” – Truman Capote. New York State is richly endowed with freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, as well as portions of two of the five Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams. These inland bodies of water serve as drinking water, provide flood control to protect life and property, and support recreation, tourism, agriculture, fishing, power generation, and manufacturing. They also provide habitats for aquatic plant and animal life.