Fugro has opened a new remote operations center (ROC) in Abu Dhabi that is already handling remote and autonomous projects in the Middle East and India.
The new ROC is the latest addition to Fugro’s global network of ROCs, which now consists of eight centers around the world.
“Successfully conducting these remote and autonomous operations from our new ROC in Abu Dhabi is a huge step that is truly advancing marine operations,” said David Washbrook, Fugro’s director for marine asset integrity in the Middle East and India. “Our remote solutions allow our clients to upgrade working processes that have been the same for decades and, as a result, derisk their projects, improve safety, optimize maintenance programs and extend operational life of their assets.”
The ROCs are used to control uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). The company says this allows projects to be delivered faster, more safely, and with lower carbon footprints. The remote nature of the operations also allows Fugro to adhere to travel and personnel restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fugro says its fleet of USVs can perform high-speed hydrography, geophysical surveys, remote inspection and deployment, and command and control of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) while being managed from any of the company’s ROCs. The company claims to have conducted more than 400 hours of ROV piloting from its ROCs.
The operations can be low-bandwidth for operations such as asset positioning or high-bandwidth for operations that require subsecond latency for control of remote assets. The low-bandwidth technology is used also to support offshore personnel through augmented reality headsets. Remote inspections rely on live-streaming technology and a secure Web interface accessed through mobile devices.