Ocean Infinity forms new unit to operate marine robot fleet
Ocean Infinity, a seabed survey and ocean exploration company, has launched of a new pioneering marine technology and data company named Armada.
Ocean Infinity said that Armada, with a focus on combining technology and sustainability, would initially add fifteen bespoke designed marine robots to Ocean Infinity’s current fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
According to the company, the launch of Armada marks a major technological advance in the industry. Each unmanned surface robot will serve a wide range of industries by being fully equipped to perform a multiplicity of offshore data acquisition and intervention operations down to a depth of 6,000 metres.
These robot ships will be capable of remotely deploying a wide range of the latest sensors as well as AUVs and ROVs for visual and acoustic data acquisition.
Armada’s fleet requires neither people on board nor a host vessel nearby. Instead, they will be controlled and operated by experienced mariners via satellite communications from onshore facilities in Austin, Texas, and Southampton.
The fleet approach produces up to 90 percent less CO2 than other conventional survey vessels, also making it the most environmentally sustainable company in the industry.
Armada’s fleet is currently under construction and is expected to be deployable by the end of 2020.
Oliver Plunkett, CEO for Ocean Infinity, said: “We’ve been driven to innovate by a desire to reduce further our impact on the environment and the time people spend at sea. We have built an outstanding team that boasts world-leading expertise to take this next stage of our business forward for the benefit of our clients and all those who work with us.”
Dan Hook, managing director of Armada, added: “We are very excited to be launching Armada, which perfectly complements the other service offerings in the Ocean Infinity Group.
“The pioneering technology makes our operations world-leading in terms of environmental sustainability and safety, whilst still achieving the very highest levels of data quality and value for our clients.
“With no requirement for a host vessel, we are breaking new ground in the area of subsea technology and data. We look forward to providing our existing and new clients with a best in class solution that will be revolutionary for the industry.”
Source: Offshore Energy Today