Developing Enhanced Marine Operations (DEMO) in High Flow Tidal Environments

Conventional subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) perform poorly in currents exceeding 1.5 m/s. This is a key operating limitation in the success and cost of marine operations in the Bay of Fundy, where current speeds reach 5 m/s. The DEMO project proposes to enhance ROV operational capacity and efficiency through an ROV operational constraints analysis and technological upgrade. This NSCC-led project, in association with Dominion Diving, DSA and AML Oceanographic, builds on recent simulations of ROV thruster requirements needed for maneuvers in the Bay of Fundy, to gain a better understanding of the ROV deployment limits.  The plan is to characterize the performance capabilities of the ROV, that with implementation, will lead to cost reductions (e.g. minimize diver involvement or frequency of inspection), operational safety (e.g. minimize diver or rope access technician involvement), and the overall advancement of the marine renewable energy industry in Canada.

Team

Principal Investigators:  Dr. Etienne Mfoumou, Nova Scotia Community College; with DSA, Dominion Diving and AML Oceanographic

Date
October 2017 – October 2019