JUST recently, Fugro-Rovtech took delivery of the new-build multipurpose ROV (remotely operated vehicle) support vessel, Skandi Olympia.
This ship takes over from the highly successful Highland Eagle, which has been re-assigned to the offshore renewable energy market, working for sister company Fugro SeaCore.
Skandi Olympia offers Fugro-Rovtech’s clients a first-class and cost-effective solution to their inspection and light intervention requirements.
The vessel will be used by Fugro-Rovtech to perform platform, subsea-structures and pipeline-inspection programmes for client companies that primarily operate in the North Sea.
Gordon Kennedy, IRM business line manager for Fugro-Rovtech, says: “We have a long, excellent and proud track record performing inspection programmes and this new addition to our fleet shows Fugro’s commitment to this core business area for the years ahead.”
The Skandi Olympia was built by the Norwegian yard, Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted, in 2009 and was delivered to Fugro in March of this year. She is classified to “comfort class” and provides all crew with a high level of off-duty relaxation.
All areas of the accommodation are very quiet, with little engine noise reaching the cabins, lounges or galley areas. There is also satellite TV and internet availability in all cabins, which accommodate 40 crew in either one or two-berth configurations. For the health-conscious, there is a fully equipped gymnasium.
Close attention has been paid to Skandi Olympia’s environmental footprint. Crucially, she is powered by a fuel-efficient diesel-electric propulsion system. The engines are fitted with urea catalytic convertors that play a key role in reducing emissions.
Operationally, the vessel has been set up to optimal inspection and survey performance. She is larger than her predecessor, measuring 79.6m overall by 16.4m breadth.
This provides more back deck area and allows Fugro-Rovtech to mobilise additional and third-party equipment as and when required. A purpose-built module with a floor area of 75sq m provides linked offices for the offshore vessel manager; also both the on-line survey and off-line survey teams.
For the acquisition of client inspection data, Fugro-Rovtech has installed three ROV systems. Pipeline inspection and remote intervention is carried out by one of Fugro’s own 150bhp, FCV 3000 work-class ROVs. This state-of-the-art vehicle is capable of performing at depths to 3,000m and is fitted with the latest data-acquisition sensors, including Reson 7125 multi-beam echosounders, bathymetric unit, combined pipe and cable tracker and Doppler velocity log.
This ROV is deployed from its own “A” Frame launch and recovery system and is fitted with a Top-Hat tether management system (TMS) for both safe operations and improved weather launch capability. The vehicle uses best-in-class components, including the propulsion units, the manipulators, sonar and camera systems.
For platform and subsea structures inspection, there are two Fugro Tiger ROV systems. Both are deployed from their garage TMSs. These ROVs are fitted with dual camera systems and sonar and can also host a range of specialist inspection equipment depending on individual client requirements.
As always, the success of a vessel and equipment is only as good as the people involved. The team that manage and operate the Skandi Olympia, both onshore and offshore, are experienced in inspection operations, know their client requirements and always aim to deliver the results safely, efficiently and ahead of time.
Skills are continually being enhanced via the company’s in-house training unit – the Fugro Academy. This provides all Fugro personnel with continuous educational and technical training throughout their careers and helps safeguard the company’s access to knowledge and expertise.
Of course, the client’s main interest is not the technology and skilled people, but the quality of the delivered data in the form of a final report.
Fugro-Rovtech delivers all such reports in digital format. This is done using a format developed in-house utilising web-based technology. All inspection reports are now issued in this digital HTML format.
A client now receives an anomaly-based report that auto-starts on insertion into a PC. Not only are all the inspection results easily accessible, but video clips, digital photographs and charts are all embedded in the report. Any project documentation relating to the job can also be included. Another major benefit of this type of report is that, once uploaded on to a client server, it can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously.
In addition to the HTML report, all digital data is delivered on a stand-alone hard-disk drive. For pipeline reporting, Fugro-Rovtech provides the Starfix DV application, which is a fully featured and integrated digital video and eventing system for data acquisition, processing and reporting. This allows the client the ability to quickly access and review data.
For further information about the Skandi Olympia or any of Fugro’s services, contact Derek Cruickshank at d.cruickshank@fugro.com
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