Work Class ROV Fleet Expansion at Fugro

Fugro has approved plans for a program of expansion that will see it deliver a minimum of 8 new generation Work Class ROV Systems during 2006 and 2007.
In addition, Fugro is also completing the, in-house, build of a 3,000msw rated ROV System to its current designs, as well as taking delivery of two new Lynx Observation Class ROV Systems from Seaeye Marine. A further aspect of the plan is that Fugro will implement a phased replacement strategy to update, or in some instances replace, the legacy technology that comprises a large proportion of the existing Work Class ROV Systems, effectively renewing the current fleet with the latest technology and designs. Taking all of these elements into consideration, Fugro will be investing Euro 26 million in ROV Technology during 2006 and 2007.
For the new Fugro ROV Technology the detailed specification and design process is already underway, lead by the recently appointed Global ROV Manager, within the revitalised, and strengthened, Fugro RTSU Team based at Fugro Survey Pte. in Singapore, from where the initial phase of builds will be delivered. These Work Class Systems will conform to the ‘Fugro Initiative for Remote Smart Technology’ (FIRST) and delivery of the initial units will commence towards the middle of 2006.
In regard to the naming convention for the new ROV Systems, Fugro have taken account of the varying connotations that can be placed on a name in the global context and have settled on the designation of ‘FCV’, which will be added to a depth identifier for the System, e.g. ‘FCV 3000’ or ‘FCV 1000’. This helps point to the fact Fugro has elected to avoid the “one size will fit all” trap, by developing specifications for both 1,000msw and 3,000msw enabled Systems that will adopt a Fugro core approach, sharing components and technology to enhance their operability across the global Business Lines and markets of Fugro.
The 1,000msw Systems will be developed to suit the competitive market in IRM, Drill Support and Pipelay / Construction Support for the “shallow water” environments, whereas the 3,000msw Systems will be fully specified to allow them to undertake similar support in deeper waters, but also to target the Development Drilling and Completions Support, Intervention and Tooling Support on Subsea Production Systems and Field Support activities in the deep water theatres. As well as scaling down, the new designs are able to be scaled upwards, or deeper, depending upon your perspective and already we are discussing 4,000msw Systems with more than one customer.
The complement of new Work Class ROV Systems is targeted at both new contract awards and existing committed work where, in some cases, the new Systems will be used to replace the Legacy Units on long term programs and allow those units to be fully refitted before redeployment, or retired.
Fugro Provides Integrated ROV Services from bases in Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, Norway, Singapore, UAE and the UK.