What's New At Saab Seaeye (2003)
 

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December 2003

SEAEYE MARINE CELEBRATE 200TH ROV SYSTEM ORDER WITH PANTHER PLUS DELIVERY TO PTSC IN VIETNAM

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Launching PTSC's Seaeye Panther Plus and TMS

Seaeye Marine will pass a significant milestone this month with the delivery of their 200th ROV system to PTSC in Vungtau, Vietnam. This Panther Plus system includes a TMS and a Seaeye Launch and Recovery System that features an elevated 'A' frame pivot point allowing the deployed package to clear a two metre ship's side or guard rail. Heavy duty five and six function manipulators are included together with a standard array of sensors and capacity for additional tooling.

Four PTSC pilot technicians undertook a 14 day factory training course in the UK that included both operational and technical training on the system. Further training will be provided in Vietnam following commissioning of the system in the New Year.

PTSC will provide drill support and survey services in the region with their Panther Plus which is the eleventh of its type to be delivered by Seaeye. The high power to weight ratio and the small footprint of the system on deck were key factors in selecting this versatile ROV.

'We were very pleased to add PTSC to Seaeye's growing list of customers seeking to achieve greater productivity and return on their investment by selecting our established and increasingly capable electric powered ROVs' said Chris Tarmey, CEO of Seaeye Marine.

'We will be shortly announcing the addition of the Cougar to the Seaeye range; a system that continues the push to increase the productivity of electric ROVs,' he added.

For more information about the Seaeye Panther Plus, click here

Chris Tarmey
CEO
Seaeye Marine Limited

Holdings Limited

3 November 2003

SMD COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF HYDROVISION'S ONGOING BUSINESS

In a joint press release issued today John Reece, MD of SMD, and Chris Tarmey, CEO of Seaeye Holdings, are pleased to confirm that SMD have completed the acquisition of the ongoing business of Hydrovision.

SMD Hydrovision will be based at SMD's extensive Newcastle manufacturing facility. It will offer the largest range of products in the subsea market from Curvetech components through to work class ROVs and trenching plough, ROV and tractor systems.

SMD Hydrovision will provide continuity for the manufacture, service and support of the full range of Hydrovision products. Using its extensive engineering resource it will be implementing a programme to develop the next generation of Curvetech products and work class ROVs to meet the future demands of the subsea markets.

The acquisition excludes Seaeye Marine whose ownership is retained by the existing shareholders through a renamed holding company, Seaeye Holdings Limited. Seaeye will now focus on its core business as the world's leading supplier of electric powered ROVs.

Press Release

October 2003

SMD SET TO ACQUIRE THE ONGOING BUSINESS OF HYDROVISION

In a joint press release issued today by Soil Machine Dynamics and Hydrovision it was confirmed that Heads of Agreement have been signed for SMD to acquire the ongoing Hydrovision business subject to the usual diligence and contract. The planned acquisition is expected to be completed by early November. Seaeye Marine, a subsidiary of Hydrovision is not included in this deal.

SMD is the world's leading manufacturer of subsea ploughs, cable and pipe line trenching ROVs and tractors and their handling systems. Hydrovision specialise in work class ROVs for subsea construction, intervention, survey and drill support particularly for the offshore oil and gas industry but with systems also delivered to military clients for use in salvage and distressed submarine operations.

The acquisition will also provide SMD with the Curvetech range of hydraulic products including thrusters, power packs and valve packs as well as PC 104 based control systems that are widely used by companies that assemble their own ROVs and subsea tools. They have also been incorporated in a large number of special projects designed and built by Hydrovision and their customers.

Key Hydrovision staff will move with the business to SMD's extensive manufacturing facility in Newcastle to provide continuity for the service, support and manufacture of the full range of the company's products.

'This strategic acquisition will significantly broaden our customer base and widen our market for technology and products with which we are very familiar' said John Reece, Managing Director of Soil Machine Dynamics, 'we very much look forward to meeting with and providing ongoing support to Hydrovision's current and future customers' he added.

Chris Tarmey, the CEO of Hydrovision and Seaeye Marine, will move full time to Seaeye whose position as the world's leading supplier of electric powered ROVs will be further strengthened by the sale of the Hydrovision business.

29 August 2003

IT'S MILITARY MONTH AT SEAEYE

Following successful deployment of the Seaeye Falcon in support of harbour search and salvage operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the UK Ministry of Defence have taken delivery of a second system this month. Based on their operational experience in challenging conditions, the MOD requested changes to their IP68 (water proof) surface equipment to provide a split screen capability for video and sonar as well as ergonomic changes to improve the pilot interfaces and portability.

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Seaeye Falcon	Falcon's new IP68 Surface unit option

The Russian Navy also took delivery of their first Seaeye Falcon system delivered through Tetis Pro who represent Seaeye in Moscow and who provide local support and training on the system. This Falcon is destined for the Search and Salvage Service of the Russian Navy and installation on a new build diving vessel. The Russian Navy also operate seven Seaeye Tigers supported by Tetis Pro engineers.

A new order has been received from the New Zealand Navy for the Falcon that is intended for use in a mine countermeasures role and support of diving operations.

The Italian Navy are understood to have approved a second Falcon and a new order has been received from yet another NATO navy that we are currently unable to name due to the sensitive nature of the operations for which it is intended.

'The Falcon is proving to be a remarkably versatile and reliable system' says Tom Keene, who looks after Seaeye Falcon sales, 'and it is particularly encouraging to start seeing so many repeat orders from satisfied customers getting good use from their systems for military, salvage, security, environmental work, tunnel inspection and so many other search and survey applications', He added.

For more information click here

Chris Tarmey
CEO

5 August 2003

GEOCONSULT MOBILISE SEAEYE'S 45th TIGER SYSTEM - WITH THE NEW SEAEYE LARS (Launch and Recovery System)

Seaeye Marine has introduced their new range of Launch and Recovery Systems, (LARS), for small to medium sized ROVs with the delivery of Tiger system 845 to Geoconsult in Norway.

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Deploying a Seaeye Tiger and Type 2 TMS

These new LARS offer a number of benefits over conventional 'A' frame systems including an elevated pivot point that allows deployed clearance of the ROV and TMS over a 2 metre high ship's guard rail to achieve a greater overboard reach without modification to the vessel. This configuration also provides clear and easy access to the ROV and TMS when it is recovered onto the LARS skid.

In the transport position this LARS is extremely compact with a crash frame provided around the winch and HPU with addition protection provided by the slowed 'A' frame. No external cranes or lifting arrangements are needed to erect the system on site.

All fastenings, pipe work and connections are 316 stainless steel and the systems are available certified for Zone 2 or Zone 1 operations. An optional ROV or TMS latching mechanism is available to be fitted to the sheave.

"We were very impressed with the overall capability of our first Tiger system and this new compact LARS which was very quick and easy to mobilise and commission" said Hans Gravdal, Geoconsult's Managing Director, who have an option to purchase a second system this year. This Tiger has been installed in "Geofjord" for inspection operations in support of the existing work class ROV on contract to Technip Norge.

This system was provided to Geoconsult through MacArtney Norge AS who distribute Seaeye products in Norway for which they stock spare parts and provide service and support.

For more information about Seaeye LARS click here.

Chris Tarmey
CEO

3 June 2003

FALCON's 16 KILO PAYLOAD PAYS OFF AS NEW ACCESSORIES ARE ADDED

Few ROVs in the same price range have the 'payload' or carrying capacity to match a Seaeye Falcon and none combine this with 50 kilos of bollard pull in such a light vehicle. So when Boscalis needed to fit a sonar, manipulator, transponder and the new Tritech image scaling camera to the ROV, our engineers were able to oblige with a new housing and 360 degree tilt mechanism for the ISS system.

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Falcon with ISS Camera, sonar and
Manipulator

Other new Falcon accessories developed in parallel with the ISS camera project are now available:

• Remote controller for camera zoom and focus (with laser on/off for ISS cameras)
   
• Auxiliary 24 volt DC Power Supply Unit with access link to spare umbilical screened twisted pair for data transmission or accessory control.

For more information and specifications click here or contact me

Tom Keene
Sales Manager

23 May 2003

NEW TMS FOR SEAEYE ROVS -
ADAPTABLE FOR OTHER MANUFACTURERS' SYSTEMS

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Seaeye's new Type 6 TMS has been designed to accommodate the full range of Seaeye ROVs with the exception of the Panther Plus that requires a larger system. The garage features telescopic legs that can be adjusted to suit the model of ROV and any tooling skids that might be fitted to it. The bell mouth and runners are polypropylene faced for a smooth entry and exit.

For operations in areas of extreme currents a ballast skid can be added to increase the weight of the garage by 1.5 tonnes. The winch drum has a tether capacity of 290 metres of 17 mm tether and the system can be rated for operations to 3000 metres.

The spooling mechanism features a tilting drive sheave that follows the diamond screw level-wind to help eliminate twisting of the tether and prolong its useful life. The ROV is automatically released when tether is first paid out as an added precaution against tether damage by stretching.

This system is manufactured for Seaeye and supersedes the earlier Type 5 TMS.

Click here for detailed specifications or contact at Seaeye.

16 May 2003

IAN BLAMIRE, MD AND FOUNDER OF SEAEYE MARINE RETIRES

Ian Blamire, who founded Seaeye Marine in 1986, has announced his retirement from full time involvement with Seaeye Marine and Hydrovision with effect from 16 May 2003. He will continue to support the Group on a consultancy basis with a particular interest in product development and liaison with key customers. He will also remain on the Hydrovision Board of Directors. His wife and co-founder of Seaeye, Janet, will retire at the same time.

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Matt Bates, left, succeeds Ian Blamire as
Managing Director of Seaeye Marine

Matt Bates will take over his responsibilities as Managing Director of Seaeye Marine and join the Hydrovision board.

Ian's involvement with the offshore oil and gas industry began as a manned submersible pilot with Intersub in the early days of exploration and production. When manned submarines began to be replaced with ROVs he moved to HMB Subwork as a pilot and then supervisor of drill support, survey and construction operations. It was during this period that he identified a need for powerful electric ROVs that would be capable of reliable operations in the harsh conditions of the offshore industry.

In 1987 he introduced the Seaeye 600 observation ROV that incorporated a number of innovations that were to become the cornerstone of Seaeye's future success. Principal among these was the first successful use of brushless DC motor technology in thruster design and an increasing use of modern plastics in chassis construction. Today, the large range of Seaeye ROVs is the yardstick by which all other professional electric ROVs are measured in terms of performance and handling. Seaeye was acquired by Hydrovision in November 1999 with Ian becoming a Director and shareholder in the Group.

Matt Bates has been with Seaeye since 1993 and has an honours degree in Engineering Systems design. During his time as Engineering Manager he was responsible for the development of the Seaeye Tiger, Lynx and Panther Plus and initiated the Seaeye Falcon aimed at the coastal and inshore market. More recently he has been the Sales and Marketing manager for Seaeye during a period that saw the company deliver a record 43 ROV systems in 2002.

"We will all miss Ian's day to day involvement with Hydrovision and Seaeye" said Chris Tarmey, Group CEO, " but Matt is ideally qualified with the necessary technical and commercial experience to take the company forward" he added.

Chris Tarmey
CEO

2 May 2003

SEAEYE TIGER SUPPORTS RUSSIAN NAVY KA-27 HELICOPTER SALVAGE IN THE SEA OF JAPAN

The Russian Navy Rescue Service have successfully completed a two week operation that involved a Seaeye Tiger ROV in the location and recover a Pacific Fleet Ka-27 naval helicopter and its crew that was lost in the Sea of Japan.

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The Navy Recovery Team

This was the first operation of its kind to bring together the Russian Navy's new equipment, technology and procedures acquired under the 2002 Navy Search and Rescue Support System Development Program that was initiated following the Kursk submarine disaster. This included the purchase of seven Seaeye Tiger observation class ROV systems as well as one atmosphere diving suit and specialist salvage tools.

During this operation a Seaeye Tiger fitted with a sector scanning sonar and video suite was initially used to locate and conduct a video survey of the wreck of the helicopter and to find three crew members in 72 metres water depth. The ROV video survey of the wreck site was to prove invaluable in the salvage planning process as well as providing a record of the situation for later accident investigation purposes.

The Tiger was then used to direct a manned submersible to the wreck site and provide support to navy divers used to sling and recover the helicopter. The Tiger was operated by 2nd rank Captain, S. Vassel, a specialist from the 40th Government Research Institute of the Russian Federation Defense Ministry, and ROV Pilot Technician, A. Yakovlev of TETIS PRO Ltd., Moscow.

The ROV was then used to recover smaller parts of wreckage from the seabed using the four function manipulator with which it is fitted. This same manipulator was also used to recover the bodies of the three crew members found during the initial ROV sonar search.

The Navy reports that their Seaeye Tiger systems proved invaluable in these water depths where strong currents, high seas and very poor visibility were encountered. "The Tiger's power, ease of operation and reliability, together with the sensors and tools with which it was fitted far exceeded our expectations in the very demanding conditions that we encountered in the Navy's first ROV operation of this kind" said Captain Vassel. "The success of the Tiger system has proved the benefits of the technical upgrading of the Navy Search and Rescue Support Service", he concluded.

This news has been reproduced with the kind permission or , the CEO of Tetis Pro, Moscow, who are Seaeye's distributor in the Russian Federation.

Chris Tarmey
CEO

www.seaeye.com
www.tetis.ru

9 April 2003

DNT, NDT & TWO SEAEYE FALCONS

DNT Offshore, based in Ravenna Italy, took delivery of their first ROV, a Seaeye Falcon in December last year. This system has been so successful in helping to grow the part of their business that specialises in non-destructive testing, NDT, that they ordered a second system within a few months. This second Falcon system has now completed its first operations in Croatia and the Adriatic.

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DNT's Seaeye Falcon with a wire brush attachment and CP probe	Launching Falcon in an improvised deployment cage

DNT Offshore was the first customer to specify the requirement for the cleaning brush attachment that is now a standard accessory available for all Seaeye Falcons. It is powered by a Falcon thruster motor providing variable, reversible speeds up to 1000 rpm and is typically used for spot cleaning prior to non-destructive testing and measurements. Their Falcons are also equipped with CP probes, a single function manipulator, sonar and a wall thickness meter.

Operating as a pair of ROVs, these Falcons have been involved in laying mattresses as well as the more traditional ROV roles of visual inspections, pipe line surveys and ship inspections.

'The very useful 16 kg of payload, together with so much power in a portable package make the Seaeye Falcon a very versatile platform for our customers' NDT requirements' said Massimo Martini, Managing Director of DNT. 'My pilots are big fans of the Falcon's power, ease of handling and reliability' he added.

DNT Offshore also specialise in the development, installation and maintenance of offshore renewable energy plants in the Mediterranean area. For more information about this company, their capability, impressive track record and client list visit www.dntoffshore.com.

For more Falcon details, or to down load the video click here or contact at Seaeye Marine.

For a local demonstration or technical support in Italy for Seaeye Falcon contact at Aquatica or call +39 041 538 1517. Lorenzo has a Falcon in stock and has also supplied the first Falcons to the Italian Navy.

31 March 2003

SEAEYE FALCON TO STAR IN CHANNEL 4's WRECK DETECTIVES, 3 APRIL AT 8 PM

The Wreck Detectives is a series of television programmes on the UK's Channel 4 that investigates the loss of ships that sank in mysterious, interesting or controversial circumstances.

Tom Keene and Falcon on location with The Wreck Detectives

On 3 April they investigate the wreck of HMS Lawford, a command ship sunk during the D-Day landings 12 miles off the coast of Normandy. Was she sunk by a mine or more interestingly, by the world's first cruise missile?

The Seaeye Falcon features heavily in this episode because the currents around the wreck of HMS Lawford made diving conditions very hazardous.

For those who are unable to watch or record this programme, all is not lost. Some excerpts are used in the Falcon promotional video that you can download on the Falcon web page.

For Tom Keene, who had just joined Seaeye as the Inshore Sales Manager, this filming was to be his first real operation with Falcon. With careful editing, to cut out the collision with an underwater cameraman, we think it shows him doing a pretty good job proving how easy it is to fly this ROV in testing conditions - even for a beginner.

Chris Tarmey
CEO
www.seaeye.com

17 March 2003

SEAEYE FALCON WORKING FOR SOUTHERN WATER

A Seaeye Marine Falcon remotely operated vehicle has recently completed a major video survey for one of the largest of the United Kingdom's water companies, Southern Water. Southern Water supplies more than two million people with drinking water in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex. The quality of this Water is amongst the best in Europe.

At a location north of Southampton that is unnamed for security reasons, the Falcon ROV operated in an extensive underground labyrinth of flooded tunnels and shafts. The tunnels were cut into the water bearing chalk over 100 years ago to provide pure water for the city of Southampton. The network was accessed from a large concrete borehole.

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Seaeye's Falcon ROV at the borehole access shaft	In the borehole

The Seaeye Falcon, owned and operated by UK ROV company Subsea Vision, worked to a vertical depth of 20 metres, and completed tunnel excursions exceeding 340 metres or 1100 feet. The Falcon ROV offers unprecedented power and excursion reach in comparison with smaller ROV's. The Falcon tilt platform also accepts any standard sub sea camera; a key option for the inshore market is the addition of a laser-scaling camera. This allows highly accurate measurements to be taken in damage evaluation.

Tina Dijkstal, Project Manager for Southern Water said: " The confined nature and length of the tunnels ruled out the use of divers on safety grounds alone. We needed a powerful ROV system with a suite of cameras to meet our requirements. ROV Platform stability and reach to the maximum tunnel extent was a crucial factor in our selection of Subsea Vision and their Falcon ROV system."

Southern Water undertakes regular surveys of all infrastructure, as part of its planned maintenance and inspection system. Preventative inspection and maintenance results in the continued delivery of high quality water to its customers at a lower cost.

"Using our Seaeye Falcon, we completed a full survey of the structure of this important asset in record time" said Chris Bryant, Managing Director of Subsea Vision.

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Chris Bryant - Managing Director of Subsea Vision

8 February 2003

MORE OPTIONS INTRODUCED FOR SEAEYE FALCON

As customers increasingly find new applications for their Falcons, Seaeye have responded by developing new accessories to fit to this versatile, portable ROV.

The current range of standard accessories available are shown on a new page at the Seaeye web site. Other accessories and tools are being developed and will be added as they are proven in operation.

CLICK HERE