Four months after the February launch of its Armada marine technology and data company, US-based Ocean Infinity will install Kongsberg Maritime’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) launch-and-recovery system (LARS) on its Armada fleet of unmanned surface vehicles.
Kongsberg said no crews will be required at sea to perform subsea operations; the ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) will be deployed and operated by experienced mariners via satellite communications from onshore facilities in the US and England.
Each unmanned surface robot is equipped to perform offshore data-acquisition-and-intervention operations down to a depth of 6000 m. The robot ships will remotely deploy the latest sensors as well as AUVs and ROVs for visual and acoustic data acquisition.
LARS uses an electric-drive system, making it more environmentally sustainable and easier to maintain. The fleet approach produces up to 90% less CO2 than other conventional survey vessels.
Launch and recovery will happen through the moonpool; release and capture of the ROV will take place under water so the ROV will not impact the vessel hull.
Armada will initially add 15 bespoke designed marine robots to Ocean Infinity’s fleet of AUVs. The 21-m (35-t) vessels have a range of 3,700 nautical miles; the 37-m (120-t) robots can travel 5,000 nautical miles. Both models operate at a speed of 12 knots with diesel electric propulsion.
The Armada fleet is currently under construction with expected completion by the end of 2020.