Function
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) provide low cost means of surveying underwater, focussing on balance of plant assets such as cables and foundations.
Who supplies them
UK suppliers for the Asian market:
Manufactures: ecoSUB and Manta.
Operators: Beam, and UTEC (Acteon).
South Korean Suppliers:
Hanwha Systems
Key facts
AUVs have the intelligence to operate independently from the vessel and has no connecting cables, whereas ROVs are connected to a remote operator.
AUVs have the potential to replace vessel-based surveys. They are launched offshore from parent vessels.
AUVs can be launched from a CTV and therefore avoid the need for a larger vessel with the lifting capacity needed to launch and recover an ROV.
What’s in it
- Crew to operate and maintain it
- Vision system and specialist tools