ASV finishes autonomous survey work off Egypt for Subsea 7

Autonomous vessel technology developer ASV Global has completed work for Subsea 7 using the C-Worker 7 class of autonomous surface vessels.

ASV Global said earlier this week that the seven-meter-long autonomous surface vessel was used to support a pipelay operation off the coast of Egypt.

Fitted with a survey suite comprising a multibeam echosounder and side scan sonar, the C-Worker 7 carried out touchdown monitoring in support of the Seven Antares pipelay vessel.

Richard Daltry, technical director at ASV Global, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Subsea 7 in their quest to increase operational efficiency through the use of autonomous surface vessel technology. This operation marks a huge step in realizing the potential of this technology and goes a long way to prove its operational readiness, particularly in a demanding offshore environment.”

The C-Worker 7 operated for a total of 37 days. According to the company, the use of the vessel replaced the need for an additional survey vessel resulting in significant cost savings.

Also, the use of the C-Worker 7 resolved the technical challenge of surveying in very shallow waters while also removing the risk to personnel working at sea in small craft, the company said.

“A custom payload frame was designed to house the specified survey suite. The modular frame slotted into the C-Worker 7’s moonpool to mount and deploy the sensors. Extensive testing confirmed that repeated sensor deployment was achieved within millimeter accuracy ensuring that no further survey sensor calibrations were required,” the company added.

Vessel trials and testing took place in Solent before the vessel was mobilized from ASV’s UK facility.

Throughout the operation, the C-Worker 7 was controlled and monitored using the ASView control system from a control station set up onboard the Seven Antares. Subsea 7 Survey personnel piloted the autonomous vessel and operated the survey sensors to ensure data accuracy and quality.