Foreword ‘The ROV industry has at last come of age. This maturity is shown in a number of ways, not least of which is the increasing demand for a highly skilled, motivated and professional work force. A Pilot/Technician is required to demonstrate a high degrce of technical skill and is expected to evidence ‘an extraordinary level of operational expertise. Outwith his need to have an expert technical discipline, he is also required to be a cameraman, photographer, commentator, seaman, weatherman, navigator, crane driver and report writer. Most of all he has to be inventive, flexible and a team player’. ‘This handbook goes a long way in giving a new entrant the insight and knowledge required to gather, learn and use the skills required of him. in striving to provide the ROV industry with a document that will meet the obligations of this professional era, the authors have compiled a comprehensive and authoritative reference manual that is a‘must for budding Pilot/Technicians wishing to pursue an interesting and rewarding career, il a J. Keith McGregor Group Manager - Corporate Development SubSea Offshore Led. About Keith McGregor Since first casting an cye over a prototype underwater vehicle in 1977, Keith McGregor has fulfilled a number of technical, operational and commercial appointments in the ROV business both in the UK and overseas, Most recently, as Manager of SubSea Offshore’s ROV and Survey Division, his focus on the company’s human resource requirement has been that of a long-term commitment to the on-going training of new and existing offshore staff. has now been appointed as Group Manager of Corporate Development for SubSea with a wide ranging brief to develop and implement the company’s growth strategy world-wide. Compiled and published by SubServ Ltd. ‘Technical authors are Chris Bell, Audrey Buck and Richard Warburton. Windermere Business Centre Oldfield Court, Windermere ‘Cumbria, LA23 2H), England Telephone +44 15394 48856 Facsimile +44 15394 48857 Email SubServLtd@aol.com ISBN 0 95315420 4 © SubServ LtdChapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 APPENDICES Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 Appendix 6 Appendix 7 Appendix 8 Appendix 9 Appendix 10 THE COMPETENT ROV PILOT/TECHNICIAN CONTENTS Introduction Offshore Safety Types of ROV Offshore Structures ROV Applications Electrical Systems Test equipment ROV Hydraulic Systems Pre/Post Dive Checks Electrical Maintenance ‘Mechanical Maintenance Contingency Procedures Communications Video Systems Still Photography Scamanship Drag, Buoyancy & Navigation Piloting Principles and use of Sonar Quality Assurance ‘Teamwork Resistor and capacitor colour codes Electrical formulae Hydraulic formulae, data and metric units Hydraulic symbols Hydraulic fluids Hydraulic pipes Hydraulic cylinder size selection Specifications for typical underwater video cameras Rigging Metric conversion factors 4 29 33 38 67 93 100 128 130 140 149 153, 155 160 165 177 188 202 204 208 209 210 242 219 224 223 224 225, 228