Saab Seaeye Key Milestones
 

1986
Seaeye Marine formed by Ian and Janet Blamire to develop electric powered ROVs. Initial target market was the offshore oil and gas industry with the particular challenge to deliver reliable vehicles capable of operating in the strong currents of the Southern North Sea.

1987
First Seaeye 600 ROVs delivered for operations in the southern North Sea.

1989
Seaeye's first export sale was made to STFA, Turkey. First TMS system delivered.

1990
Sales increased to 1 system per month.

1991
Seaeye Surveyor introduced with first system delivered to HMB Subwork. The use of polypropylene in the construction of this first 'open frame' Seaeye is an industry first.

1992
Developed first digital control system for Seaeye ROVs to replace analogue controls.

1993
Seaeye Boxer range introduced with first system delivered to ESSO Australia for platform inspection.

1994
Seaeye Scrutineer introduced - Seaeye's first 1000 MSW inspection vehicle and designed specifically for Brazilian offshore market and operated by DSND Consub sa.

1995
Seaeye 600 DT introduced with digital telemetry to replace the original analogue control system. ROVTECH take the first three systems.

1996
50th Seaeye 600 delivered.

Seaeye Tiger introduced to replace the Boxer range with ROVTECH taking the first two systems.

Seaeye Surveyor Plus launched with first system going to Subsea Offshore and the second to Global Industries Asia Pacific in Singapore.

1997
Seaeye Panther medium size electric work class ROV launched with deliveries to the North Sea for drill support and to Qatar Subsea Services (QSS) of Doha for pipeline inspection and seabed survey.

Seaeye metal shell connectors introduced to replace moulded connectors on all vehicles except Seaeye 600 and 600 DT resulting in significant improvements in reliability. Offered as an upgrade kit for other vehicles.

1998
Awarded ISO 9001.

Further Seaeye Panther deliveries to the middle east for CCC Underwater of Abu Dhabi.

100th Seaeye ROV delivered.

1999
Record 14 ROV systems delivered with 6 TMS systems. Countries delivered to include Holland, Italy, Canada, Australia and UK.

Seaeye Marine acquired by Hydrovision Ltd with Ian Blamire joining the board of Hydrovision with day to day responsibility for Seaeye.

2000
Seaeye PT 02 electric pan and tilt unit introduced. Also available as a stand-alone product.

SUBCO take 2 Seaeye Tigers with TMS and one Surveyor Plus for rental market.

2001
Seaeye Lynx introduced to replace Puma with first two systems delivered to Stolt Offshore. Type 5 TMS introduced with first three deliveries to Stolt Offshore and ROVTECH. Distributed intelligence and magnetically coupled thruster developed for single phase A/C supplied Seaeye Falcon under development for coastal and inshore applications.

2002
Seaeye Panther Plus light weight work class ROV introduced with first two systems and option for 4 more going to ROVTEC, Aberdeen, who assisted with development of the system specification.

Russian Navy order 7 Seaeye Tiger systems and Swedish Navy take customised Seaeye propulsion system in Duplus upgrades.

Seaeye Falcon introduced - the company's first portable, single phase a/c supplied system, aimed at the coastal and inshore observation and inspection market with a 1:1 power to weight ratio from magnetically coupled, brushless DC thrusters producing 50 kgf bollard pull.

Company achieves record deliveries of 43 ROV systems in 2002 helped by booming demand for Seaeye Falcon.

2003
Falcon sales pass 25 on anniversary of its launch with repeat orders from the UK Ministry of Defence, DNT Offshore in Italy and new orders from the Russian Navy and New Zealand Navy. Growing range of accessories made available for Falcon including cleaning brush, hand winch, video suites and IP 68 waterproof surface control equipment.

May 2003. Ian and Janet Blamire, co-founders of Seaeye Marine retire from full time involvement and Matt Bates takes over the reins as Seaeye's Managing Director.

Following the sale of Hydrovision to SMD by the newly formed Seaeye Holdings Limited, Seaeye Marine continues to trade as an independent design and manufacturing company focused on their core electric ROV business. Chris Tarmey assumes the full time role of CEO of the company and relocates from Aberdeen to Fareham, Hampshire.

2004
Seaeye Cougar introduced and first delivery made to DNT Offshore in Italy. This ROV fills a gap in the Seaeye range between the Seaeye Lynx inspection ROV and Panther Plus medium work class ROV.

Jon Robertson joins the Seaeye Board as Engineering Director.

Deep penetration tunnel inspection Falcon F2 introduced with Fibre Optic data and video transmission and completes first task in Saudi Arabia with CDL inertial navigation package installed.

50th Seaeye Falcon and 50th Seaeye Tiger delivered.

2005
First 3000 metre rated Seaeye Cougar ROV ordered by Huisman-Itrec as fly-out ROV for their new Deep Sea Constructor system.

First Seaeye ROVs delivered to China with Panther Plus to COSL and Falcons for the Navy and Tianjin training facility. Second Panther Plus ordered for delivery in 2006.

A Seaeye Tiger, owned and operated by the Russian Navy provided video survey of their Pritz mini submarine trapped on seabed prior to its rescue by a Royal Navy owned Scorpio operated by James Fisher Defence.

64,000 visitors download video from What's New page at this site of a giant Octopus attacking a Seaeye Falcon in Canada.

Subsea Vision upgrade Falcon with F2 fibre optic video and data transmission system and 1000 metre depth rating for deep internal tunnel inspections. Excellent results kick off development of Falcon DR (Deep Rated).

2006
Company buys back 3i PLC shares to put shareholder directors back in control of the Company.

Russian Navy select Seaeye Panther Plus system as part of their new rapid response, air transportable rescue system to support distressed submarines following lessons learned in last year Pritz rescue.

BAE Systems announce Talisman AUV that incorporates Seaeye propulsion system using (Panther Plus) SM 5 thrusters, Seaeye actuators and Seaeye metal shell connectors.

6000 square feet of additional factory space acquired to boost ROV production.

1000 msw rated Seaeye Falcon DR introduced with first production system delivered to Sea View Systems Inc of Dexter, MI, USA.

2007
Seaeye Cougar-XT launched following 4 months operational experience with Subsea 7 in Southern North Sea during 2006.

Fugro-Rovtech Group places record order for 15 ROV systems for delivery to their various subsidiary companies in UK and overseas. Order includes a mix of vehicles from Falcon to Panther Plus and includes the new Cougar-XT.

Following successful mobilisation trials in 2006, the Russian Navy orders a second Seaeye Panther Plus air transportable system.

May 2007 Seaeye Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary company, Seaeye Marine Limited, is acquired by Saab Underwater Systems AB and Seaeye Marine is renamed Saab Seaeye Limited.

100th Seaeye Falcon delivered as part of a record order of 15 ROV systems for Fugro-Rovtech’s international operations.

SEAEYE - The THRUST of Technology.