Subsea specialist ROVOP has expanded its fleet of ROVs by taking delivery of four new hydraulic Work-Class systems in January, with four more ROVs expected later in the year. The company has invested $20 million (over £12 million) in the four hydraulic Schilling HD Work Class ROVs, and plans to grow its offshore team by 50 to 110 to expand its ROV services to the oil and gas industry.

ROVOP has also invested in its own ROV simulator for its in-house ROV Academy to further develop the training and competence of its offshore staff. The simulator enables ROV pilots to hone their skills in physics-accurate conditions.

The company’s latest ROVs have been manufactured by FMC Schilling Robotics in Davis, California. The ROVs are equipped with the Hammerhead control system, which gives pilots the ability to use an increased suite of auto functions, including automated manipulator control.

The systems are fitted with Teledyne CDL TOGS-NAV (Tiny Optical Gyro System for navigation) technology units that combine DVL, fiber-optic gyro, and depth sensors to provide maximum ROV control. DNV has awarded ROVOP ISO 9001 accreditation of its integrated management system.