Advancements in ROV and trenching technology

The need for reliable, productive and reconfigurable machines working in deep water has led to a continuing evolution of underwater technology. An increase in remote operated vehicle (ROV) system reliability and flexibility has been achieved by the design of a new class of ROV to overcome previous ROVs' failures. The new system, Innovator/sup TM/, can work at depths up to 3500 m. Its configuration with a system manipulator package and a complete survey suite allows real-time performance and eliminates reconfiguration requirements. Thanks to its flexibility and ability to transfer power to other modules, new packages can be integrated with it to accomplish different tasks. The Centaur combines Innovator/sup TM/ and a tracked trenching skid. It can mate and unmate underwater to perform as a free-swimming or seabed tractor for survey, maintenance and burial tasks. Further developments are the free flying trenchers IT300 and Sedna. Both these machines are a good example of integration between a skid equipped with packages for cable burial and, in the case of Sedna, de-burial. A slightly modified Innovator/sup TM/ meets the demands of the high and very high power needed for the performance requested. An innovative technology and new materials have been applied to transfer such a high power with small diameter umbilical cables. The key concepts offering high flexibility to these vehicles are: the possibility of power sharing among the utilities on the basis of system demands; an easy reconfiguration of the trenching system to satisfy a wider range of tasks.