Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle Project Execution Practices
By Ir . Roslian Efendy bin Syafrial Engineering Manager WS Offshore Pte Ltd , Singapore
SPECIAL REPORT
Figure 1 : Launching a heavy work class ROV .
Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles ( ROVs ) play an important role in most offshore projects i . e ., surveys , observations , repairs and maintenances , new installations , etc . These are mainly used in an environment where human intervention is virtually impossible due to factors such as a harsh environment , poor visibility and deep water . In certain offshore projects , both divers and ROVs are used in simultaneous operations ( SIMOP ) with high consideration for safety practices .
Over the years , the International Marine Contractor Association ( IMCA ) has been actively providing guidelines and regulations for ROV contractors around the world covering ROV operations in terms of safety , maintenance , and project management . Having said that , it is not crucial for every contractor to follow the guidelines as long as contractors have their own proper project guidelines that can satisfy their clients . In recent years , most major clients have requested that ROV contractors have an IMCA certificate , which means the contractor has to adhere to the IMCA . Some of the guidelines included in the IMCA regulations are : 1 . IMCAR 002 : Competence of ROV personnel ; 2 . IMCAR 004 : Code of Practice for Safety and
Efficient Operations of ROV ’ s ;
63