Newsletter No. 35

August 2004

MAIIF 13 – 4 to 8 October Provisional programme

THE CODE

Canada Vanuatu and Australia have submitted a proposal to MEPC and MSC that:

1. the Committee authorises that a review of the Annex to Assembly Resolution A.849(20) be placed on the work program of the Flag State Implementation Sub-Committee and that the Sub-Committee should recommend such amendments to the Code as it considers necessary;
2. consideration should be given to annexing an appropriately amended Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974, as amended.

The MEPC Secretariat has issued a note MEPC 52/10/1 inviting the MEPC to note the information and “decide as appropriate” during the meeting to be held 11-15 October. The paper to MSC, which meets 1-10 December has been submitted and should be considered under agenda item 9.

I will not be at MEPC or MSC. I will be briefing the Australian delegates to the meetings and the sponsors of this paper would welcome support from other delegations.

ROVs

The following article was provided by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch. My particularly thanks to Graham Wilson, Inspector.

Gaul Underwater Survey 2002 MiniROV

1. Introduction

During the summer of 2002, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) undertook a key role in the return underwater survey of the wreck of the UK-registered trawler Gaul, which disappeared in the Barents Sea, north of Norway, in 1974. This survey provided new video evidence for the Re-opened Formal Investigation (RFI) into the vessel’s loss, which was held in Hull in early 2004.

The scope of the survey was wide, with innovative techniques and equipment developed to achieve many challenging objectives, including a detailed internal survey of the wreck to search for and recover samples of human remains for DNA testing.

Nine remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) were carried on the Subsea7 survey vessel, MPSV Seisranger, with up to four of these being deployed at any one time on the wreck, at a depth of about 260 metres. Two large Workclass ROV’s, supported by two Observation ROVs, carried out much of the survey work, capturing video footage and supporting the deployment of bespoke measurement equipment. Two designs of miniROV, as described below, launched from Tether Management System (TMS) skids on the WROV’s, were also used to explore the interior spaces of the wreck, as well as limited external surveys in more sheltered areas.

Comprehensive details of this survey, including video clips of survey footage, are included on the official website for the RFI at www.fv-gaul.org.uk.

2. MiniROV Details

2.1. VideoRay

Three 350m-rated VideoRay units were custom-designed by Inuktun to be deployed through the Gaul’s portholes. The VideoRays were supplied with two small manipulators, and provided excellent pictures, completing a number of deep internal surveys of the wreck, including a mission 25m into the Factory on the wreck to inspect refuse chutes, which were found to be open.

The VideoRays were originally intended to be disposable after carrying out various high risk surveys. All three vehicles survived the duration of the survey, although none remained operational at the end, as they were used more extensively than originally planned, and thus used up the many spares carried onboard. The VideoRay did however prove to be an easy vehicle to maintain and was generally very successful, providing stunning footage of many internal features of the wreck.

The vehicles proved to be excellent tools, and will benefit from various upgrades in light of operational experience gained. Problems were experienced with flooding of the Tether Connector on the vehicles, as well as with the motor drive boards and recording the video signal to the DVCam decks.

The VideoRay units provided for the Gaul investigation were based on the standard design manufactured by VideoRay LLC in the USA. Therefore it was not possible to rent the specific units required (although it is possible to rent standard units from various dealers).

The website: www·videoray·com provides comprehensive details on the various designs of units currently available, including video clips, and details of worldwide dealers and pricing.

2.2. LBV

Two Seabotix LBV’s (Little Benthic Vehicle) were also carried, proving agile and powerful, being slightly larger than the VideoRays. The LBV was successfully flown deep into the wreck on several occasions, each time collecting valuable footage, including the Bridge, Crews Mess and along corridors and into cabins. This greater power also enabled their use for various external wreck inspections.

The Gaul survey was the first ever deployment of the 300m LBV design, and unfortunately various operational problems were encountered, but these are being addressed and the vehicle should prove a valuable tool in the future. The shaft seals on the thrusters were found to let water in, and the thrusters were modified onboard to successfully oil-fill them. A hollow buoyancy assembly also imploded, and was replaced with Syntactic Foam on both vehicles, whilst the TMS also had some problems spooling the tether subsea. Some simple modifications improved operation considerably. Like the VideoRays, both LBVs survived the entire survey, but were both rendered non-operational with all onboard spares consumed.

Extensive information and pictures of the various available LBV models, including purchase prices, can be obtained from either the manufacturer’s website, Seabotix: www·seabotix·com or from their UK dealer, (and the UK government’s supplier), Cetrax: www·cetrax·com.

3. Future developments

Many of the areas surveyed by the LBV and VideoRay could not have been surveyed by any other means, with the units proving complementary. The VideoRay was smaller and more streamlined and could penetrate deep into the wreck through small openings, but it was not as agile or powerful as the LBV. The LBV had a larger tilt range on the front camera, but the VideoRay’s camera produced clearer images and had a longer zoom range. Neither vehicle could look straight beneath them, thereby restricting inspection of some deep narrow spaces.

Developments have been incorporated to iron out the reliability problems experienced during this pioneering survey. For example, the LBVs have new brushless motors (individually oil-filled and compensated) fitted, as well as new thruster control boards to increase performance.

Possible additional features include improving the camera functionality and incorporating scanner sonar systems or navigational systems such as Desert Star (www·desertstar·com) which allows precise, methodical navigation and location of any target or condition on a ship’s hull.

The LBVs and VideoRays procured by the UK government’s Department for Transport have been refurbished and upgraded for future underwater survey deployments, by the MAIB and other agencies within DfT. All enquiries regarding the possible hire or use of any of the units from DfT, should be directed to:

John Mairs
Shipping Policy 2c
Department for Transport
Zone 2/24
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

Tel: +44(0) 207 944 5417
Fax: +44(0) 207 944 2186
Email: john.mairs[at]dft·gsi·gov·uk

Article written by: Graham Wilson, Inspector of Marine Accidents, MAIB.

Kit Filor
Chairman
23 August 2004

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