Ashtead Technology Wraps Subsea Installation Monitoring Project Using LUMA Modems

UK-based subsea equipment rental and solutions firm Ashtead Technology said Monday it had recently completed its first significant subsea monitoring project using Hydromea’s LUMA high-speed through-water wireless optical modems since signing the global rental partnership.

The rental partnership agreement was signed in June last year with Switzerland-based Hydromea, a subsea wireless access provider, for the use of Hydromea’s LUMA high-speed through-water wireless optical modems as an integral part of its AMS+ and DMS (Autonomous & Deflection Monitoring Systems) for the global subsea construction market.

Describing its first significant project using the LUMA modems, Ashtead Technology said Monday: "The project saw Ashtead Technology provide its Autonomous Structure Monitoring Systems, which were each integrated with LUMA optical modems, to complete an underwater installation monitoring work scope for subsea and offshore wind contractor, Havfram, in the Norwegian North Sea."

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The work scope included the provision of ten Autonomous Structure Monitoring Systems, two for each suction anchor template, and an additional four Autonomous Structure Monitoring Systems, which were used to monitor the installation of a range of subsea structures. The Structure Monitoring Systems were configured for autonomous independent operation, communicating data to one of the installation ROVs. Ashtead Technology utilized LUMA optical modems to enhance the accuracy of the data collected, ensuring maximum performance of the system.

"LUMA products are the smallest, lightest, lowest power consuming subsea optical modems available that provide high-speed and high-bandwidth wireless communication at depths of up to 6,000 meters with remarkably low latency, even in the murky waters of the North Sea," the company said.

Ross MacLeod, Ashtead Technology’s Technical Director, added: “When completing subsea installation projects, it is vital that the information provided is accurate, reliable and delivered in real-time. This reduces the risk of damage to the structure during installation and ensures it is installed within specification.

“We have been using LUMA modems on construction projects over the past three years and we have been very pleased with the functionality and ease of integration of the devices into our existing systems. The technology used within the LUMA modems is cutting edge and advances subsea data communication significantly whilst helping to reduce project complexity, risk and cost.”