Divers play a crucial role in various fields, such as ocean exploration, infrastructure, aquaculture, military, and salvage operations. They perform various complex tasks, such as search and rescue operations, deep diving research, checking for underwater mines, and more. These activities are dangerous, and it is always good to have an extra set of eyes during the operation to make sure the lives of divers are safe.
Low visibility is a challenges for divers underwater
Visibility is a major obstacle for divers in murky and dark water. In such situations, divers will not be able to assess their environment. This can lead to dangerous scenarios such as entanglement, hypothermia, and physical exhaustion. In such situations, inspecting with an ROV first is a safer method to learn about the hazards that are unknown to the diver.
Adding a sonar significantly enhances navigation in zero-visibility conditions. Sonar systems emit sound waves that reflect off objects, providing detailed information about the underwater environment even when visual cues are absent. This capability allows operators to detect obstacles, assess underwater terrain, and locate potential hazards, making sonar an invaluable tool for ROVs in search operations. Integrating a sonar on the Blueye X3 ROV will help map out areas before divers enter, reducing risks and ensuring a more secure diving experience.
ROVs assisting commercial divers
ROVs can be deployed to reduce the need for humans to dive, especially in dangerous or impractical situations. Deploying an ROV before a dive allows stakeholders to see exactly what needs to be done and where. While there's an ongoing debate about whether machines will replace humans, the reality is that ROVs and divers can work together effectively.
ROVs can take on hazardous tasks such as deep-sea inspections or working in contaminated waters, minimizing the risk to human divers. At the same time, divers can focus on more complex and nuanced tasks that require human judgment and skill. This partnership improves safety and boosts the overall productivity of underwater inspections.
Reducing cost and downtime
Underwater inspections are necessary in many industries, but these regular evaluations can be time-consuming and resource-consuming. In sectors subject to numerous regulations, bureaucracy, and paperwork often complicate the process. Conducting effective and purposeful inspections is, therefore, a key success factor.
We used to need divers for hull inspections which had to be organized some time in advance. We had to do a lot of paperwork and shut down all the thrusters. With the Blueye ROV, we save time, and eliminate all that risk and expenses associated with divers.
- Archie Nicholson, Chief Engineer at TechnipFMC
The Blueye ROV can be deployed within minutes, significantly reducing the time spent on underwater inspections. Proper planning before the actual operation can further streamline the process. By minimizing the risks associated with human divers, the ROV helps avoid potential shutdowns of systems and machinery during inspections.
Blueye's reporting feature enhances this efficiency by consolidating dive information and the inspector's expertise into comprehensive reports. These reports can be easily shared with colleagues or stakeholders, facilitating discussions and analysis for improved decision-making. This feature enhances communication and ensures that important insights from the dive are captured and readily accessible for future reference.
Practical application of Blueye ROVs
The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences diver education uses the Blueye ROV to monitor and observe their students performing diving tasks. The ROVs offer a comprehensive visual overview, allowing instructors to supervise safely from above and provide real-time feedback, which enhances learning outcomes and safety during training.
The best advantages of the Blueye drones are that it is extremely easy to set up and dive with an Ipad or iPhone and transfer images/video to a phone or PC. For our use, the battery time is good.
- Kjartan Lerøen, Instructor at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.
V2 Subsea used their Blueye ROV to help Oceanetics' dive team with offshore wind mooring system inspections off the Atlantic coast. The drone's camera provided valuable footage, complementing the diver's helmet cam and ensuring thorough process coverage.
Benefits of having a Blueye ROV
Enhanced Safety: Blueye ROVs can be deployed in dangerous or hard-to-reach areas, reducing the risk to human divers by handling hazardous tasks and providing an extra set of eyes underwater.
Improved Visibility : The Blueye ROVs provide clear visuals in murky waters, helping divers better assess their environment and avoid potential dangers like entanglement. Adding a sonar to the ROV will increase the ability to navigate even in zero visibility conditions
Increased Efficiency: The Blueye ROVs can perform routine inspections and surveys quickly and accurately, allowing divers to focus on more complex tasks requiring human skills and judgment.
Cost-Effective Operations: By reducing the need for extensive diver involvement in hazardous or repetitive tasks, Blueye ROVs help lower operational costs and minimize downtime. Unlike divers, ROVs have no time restrictions and can operate continuously. Equipped with the robust Blueye High Capacity Battery, the ROVs can run for up to 5 hours in normal conditions, ensuring longer inspection periods without interruption
Efficient Reporting: The Blueye reporting feature helps divers by consolidating dive data into comprehensive reports that can be easily shared with colleagues or stakeholders, improving communication and decision-making. Additionally, it allows divers to annotate findings, making it easier to highlight critical issues and ensure thorough documentation of underwater operations
So, will ROVs replace human divers? The answer is NO.
Brave people will always have to stick their hands into dangerous places & perform work that most people couldn’t even dream of. We know that our machines will make your dive operations faster, safer, and more efficient.
Why not get in touch to learn how we can help your team be better prepared for what’s below the surface?
