ScanFish ROTV Sensor Payload Expanded by 700%
Designed to function as platform for subsea sensors, the EIVA ScanFish remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) comes standard with a maximum sensor payload of 50 kg. But a design upgrade was needed when marine geophysical-geotechnical service delivery specialist PanGeo Subsea contacted EIVA to discuss the possibility of using the ScanFish together with its Sub-Bottom Imager (SBI) unit, which weighs 300 kg.
The EIVA R&D team took up the challenge in May 2017. Four months later, a ScanFish XL was introduced at the EIVA Days Denmark 2017. The ROTV itself measures 4.33x2.73x2.77 meters. It weighs 1,840 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 350 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 EIVA 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.