Fall Pipe ROV with Integrated Rotator

Significant operational efficiency gains thanks to revolutionary integrated survey ROV technology

Our client Boskalis approached Seatools with a proposition to integrate a survey ROV into their main fall pipe ROV in order to eliminate the need for separate post-process surveys.

The result is a highly automated fall pipe ROV that integrates a survey ROV. The survey ROV features full DP functionalities, and can dock and undock fully automatically so as to facilitate direct post-process surveys that yield major cost savings.

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A highly reliable fall pipe ROV capable of performing multiple seabed preparation tasks

The Flintstone FPROV is one of the largest, most powerful, and versatile ROVs that Seatools ever built. The ROV can be equipped with a mass flow excavation tool to facilitate high-volume excavation tasks. Moreover, a seabed grader for precision seabed grading can be added.

Thanks to its multifunctional setup, this FPROV enables DEME to perform multiple seabed tasks using the same piece of equipment, which results in significant cost savings.

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The ROV 7 fall pipe ROV: a state-of-the-art fall pipe ROV that achieves extremely reliable rock installation operations

The ROV 7 fall pipe ROV, which was built for Van Oord, integrates all of Seatools’ knowledge and capabilities in the field of fall pipe ROVs, and represents the state of the art in the field of custom-built ROVs.

The conceptual design process recognized ROV reliability and availability as key requirements. Seatools performed an FMEA study, and designed an ROV architecture that facilitates very high levels of system reliability.

A compact and easy-to-transfer FPROV system for precision subsea rock installation

This highly compact fall pipe ROV was completed in 2009 for Jan de Nul. The system’s compact design facilitates easy transportation and use on various of our clients’ vessels. The ROV is capable of fully automated dynamic positioning.

As with all advanced systems developed by Seatools, this rock installation ROV was simulated prior to installation in order to ensure optimal performance and to minimize the duration of commissioning and on-site trials.

Record-holding fall pipe ROV able to accurately position rocks at more than 1000 meters of water depth

This fall pipe ROV system was completed in 2011 for Van Oord’s rock-dumping vessel “Stornes.” In 2014, this ROV broke the world record for subsea rock installation, installing rocks at a water depth of 1277 meters.

Like our other ROVs, ROV 6 incorporates a high level of dynamic subsea positioning. This includes features such as follow track line, tracking speed control, and auto swing mode. These features allow for highly automated precision rock dumping operations.

Highly redundant fall pipe ROV for predictable SRI operations

For the newly built fall pipe and mining vessel Joseph Plateau, our client Jan de Nul requested a fall pipe ROV. During the ROV’s development, one of the dominant design criteria was overall system reliability.

Seatools designed and built a highly redundant ROV architecture that incorporates two equal, full-fledged hydraulic systems. The setup, combined with full DP capabilities, enables Jan de Nul to perform highly predictable rock installation operations.

A robust monitoring system that facilitates safe and productive rock-dumping operations near subsea structures

This inclined fall pipe instrumentation system provides accurate and real-time data on the rock-dumping process and related equipment. The survey equipment provides an accurate profile of deposited rocks, which allows the operator to minimize the amount of rocks that need to be dumped. In addition, exact knowledge of the fall pipe’s surroundings and the position of the fall pipe reduces chances of equipment collision, in turn enhancing safety.

Real-time ROV simulator for effective operator training

In addition to the design and delivery of the Rockpiper fall pipe ROV itself, Seatools also developed and delivered an on-board simulator. This simulator allows ROV operators to experience simulations of specific operations and abnormal system behavior. The operator receives real-time feedback from the ROV user interface. Specific operations, such as the positioning of the ROV and the (un)docking of the survey, can be trained in an effective and safe manner.

Full-mission simulator for effective operator training

In addition to the design and delivery of the Joseph Plateau fall pipe ROV, Seatools developed and delivered a segment of a full-mission subsea rock installation simulator. The simulator can imitate a full-fledged rock installation operation – including the installation of the pipe-handling system and the subsea rock installation process controlled by the Joseph Plateau fall pipe ROV.