Inertial Navigation for Offshore Survey
UK-based subsea installation contractor Bibby Offshore has chosen to invest in two SPRINT subsea inertial navigation systems (INS) from Sonardyne International Ltd to support ROV operations carried out by its new offshore survey business division. Bibby Offshore will be installing SPRINT INS on its deep-rated Quasar ROV where it will assist in a variety of inspection, repair and maintenance surveys.
SPRINT is an acoustically aided inertial navigation system for subsea vehicles developed by Sonardyne to extend the operational limits and efficiency of USBL and LBL positioning systems. It makes optimal use of acoustic aiding data and other sensors such as Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) and pressure sensors to improve accuracy, precision and integrity in any water depth.
Robin Longstaff, survey manager, commented that this purchase is part of a larger investment being made by Bibby Remote Intervention Ltd (BRIL) in a suite of high-specification sensors to support ROV survey and inspection operations on their primary ROV support vessel. The Sonardyne SPRINT INS systems will be installed as standard items, thereby increasing the accuracy of all ROV positioning activities. This will provide the immediate key benefits of more efficient data processing and the continued provision of high-quality deliverables to our clients.
