By Ronald Koomans, contributing editor, Hydro International

The invitation for this product survey covered the full range from highly portable flying cameras to ultra heavy duty work class vehicles. Unfortunately, the larger work class manufacturers did not provide any feedback resulting in a more limited range from flying cameras through rougherdised observation class to versatile light work class vehicles.

Rather than a comparison, this product survey is a line- up whereby the three different classes stated above can beare distinguished. With all subsea equipment the potential user shall always consider the system's future use, typical environmental deployment conditions and support requirements. Obtaining a quick visual of a quayside or vessel hull is a completely different scope than performing a full blown annual pipeline inspection. The first is feasible with a manually deployed flying camera or rougherdizsed eyeball whereas the last not only requires a work class vehicle but also supporting vessel, launch and recovery systems etc.

The flying cameras in this product survey are provided by:

• AC-CESS including a TMS system as an option

• JW Fishers Mfg

• VideoRay LLC.

The rougherdised observation classes of which a number are still deployable by hand are provided by:

• Mariner Underwater Electronics

• Outland Technology

• Saab Seaeye

• Seabotix

• Shark Marine Technologies Inc.

• Sub Atlantic

In the majority of these cases the vehicle can be outfitted with small manipulators and allow for additional sensors to be carried as part of the vehicle payload. These vehicles are ideally suited to bridge the gap between the flying camera and the work class vehicles. In deeper water some of these observation class vehicles are piggy-bagged onto a large work class vehicle to provide this vehicle with a pair of additional highly flexible eyes.

The (light) work class and light work class vehicles are provided by:

• Saab Seaeye

• Sub Atlantic

Due to their size and weight tThese vehicles due to their size and weight are no longert suitable for the odd opportunity anymore but generally for year- round deployment/ permanent fit. The product survey provides a good overview of the typical vehicles in this sectionpart of the market. Note that in the upper sectionpart of this market there are more manufacturers who have not beenare not included in this survey. With Saab Seaeye and Sub Atlantic, however, we believe that weto have captured the larger providers of light work class vehicles.