Expanding the payload of the ScanFish ROTV sensor platform by 700%

The EIVA ScanFish remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) is designed to function as platform for subsea sensors. It comes standard with a maximum sensor payload of 50 kg. Consequently, somewhat of a design upgrade was needed when the marine geophysical-geotechnical service delivery specialist PanGeo Subsea (now known as Kraken Robotics) contacted us to discuss the possibility of using the ScanFish together with their Sub-Bottom Imager (SBI) unit, which weighs 300 kg.

The EIVA R&D team took up the challenge in May 2017 and four months later, a ScanFish XL was introduced at the EIVA Days Denmark 2017. The ROTV itself measures 4.33x2.73x2.77 metres. It weighs 1840 kg in air but is neutrally buoyant in water.

Moya Cahill, Pangeo’s President, attended the EIVA Days Denmark and stated: 'PanGeo’s SBI 3D acoustic SAS capability has proven to be very effective for cable depth of burial surveys and more recently UXO surveys. We are very excited with the prospect of having PanGeo’s SBI interfaced onto EIVA’s ScanFish XL ROTV. We will market this new ScanFish / SBI combination as the SBI SeaKite. It has been designed to deliver a more cost effective multi-sensor towed solution for pre-route and UXO surveys.'

The ScanFish XL has a payload of 400 kg, making it ideal for fitting the PanGeo Subsea SBI as well as other pieces of equipment that extend the standard payload of 50 kg. Moreover, as we have added the 3D option for horizontal steering, PanGeo Subsea customers will be able to not only control the vertical position of their sensors in the water column, but also benefit from the possibility of controlling the sideways movements of the ROTV as well. 

The ScanFish XL has already undergone its first sea trials with promising results. PanGeo is targeting to have its SBI SeaKite ready for full commercial use in the 2018 survey season.

Not the first customised ROTV to go to sea

This is not the first time EIVA has created a customised version of the ScanFish ROTV – nor do we expect it to be the last. Customers have received tailored solutions for operations such as subsea magnetometer surveys, where a new design was required in order to be able to fit the requested sensors in the most optimal way. 

Would you like to make use of the new option for a higher payload?