Remotely operated grab

Clearing boulders and obstructions from a cable route usually means an ROV or an ROV-type grab, expensive to mobilise and limited to vessels set up to carry them. Our remotely operated grab takes a different route: a camera-equipped grab manoeuvred directly by a vessel crane or, ideally, by our Cranetainer deployment system. The operator sees the seabed through the grab’s own cameras and positions, grabs and clears without an ROV in the water, so boulder removal and route clearance can be run from most vessel sizes with a simple, self-contained spread.

What problem it solves

Cable-lay routes have to be cleared of boulders and obstructions before product is laid. Bringing a full ROV spread to do it is costly and ties the work to suitably equipped vessels. A camera-guided grab on a crane or Cranetainer puts capable, visually-controlled clearance within reach of a much wider range of vessels, with far less mobilisation, and, paired with the Cranetainer, it deploys plug-and-play without permanent vessel modification.

Two grab options

• Peel grab – an orange-peel-style grab suited to picking and lifting discrete boulders and obstructions off the route.
• Digging clamshell grab – a clamshell configuration for digging and clearing where material has to be excavated as well as lifted.

Why it works

• Camera-guided – onboard cameras give the operator a direct view for positioning and grabbing, without an ROV.
• Cranetainer-deployed – easily manoeuvred by the Cranetainer’s deployment system, so it works from most vessel sizes with a simple installation; the Cranetainer’s deep-water configuration extends the working depth.
• Two interchangeable tools – peel grab for picking, clamshell for digging, matched to the seabed and the obstruction.