Spearheading the use of this technology, TUCF will become the
world wide centre for ADS training in affiliation with OceanWorks
International and welcomes trainees from all regions to participate
in our five week course. It is anticipated that up to 30 new Pilots,
Supervisors and Technicians will be trained over the following six
months with many more courses expected to follow.
The tried and tested HARDSUIT™ manufactured and operated by
OceanWorks is a key component of marine military inventories across
the globe. In addition The HARDSUIT™ ADS is seeing rapidly increasing
use in many offshore construction and oil field support operations.
ADS are valued for safety, cost efficiency and the reduced equipment
footprint they require on board platforms and vessels. Importantly
they eliminate the need for decompression after the job is done. The
HARDSUIT™ ADS fills the unique gap between ROV and Saturation
Diving capabilities.
ADS maintain the advantage of being manned systems while running at
an overall lower operating cost than Saturation Diving Systems. ADS
require half the personnel, significantly less deck space, smaller
crane size, less power, and have faster mobilisation/demobilisation
times.
The HARDSUIT™ can stay on task for longer durations, and has
unlimited vertical excursion capabilities. With a depth range of up
to 365 m (1200ft), ADS have a 65m gain on saturation dive limits and
avoid the need for divers to be exposed to elements including extreme
pressures at depth. They therefore exclude personnel from associated
physiological and decompression risks. ADS have the added capability
of rapid emergency evacuation from a vessel or platform without decompression.
Comparatively ROVs often cost less to operate on a daily basis, can
operate at deeper depths, handle heavy tools and payloads and do not
require personnel underwater. However, they are less dexterous and
lack human 3D vision, hearing and spatial awareness. Large work class
ROV systems also have access restrictions due to size. Consequently
the ROV can be less task productive than the ADS, especially if tasks
have not been extensively pre-engineered. The HARDSUIT™ is highly
dexterous and can execute many manipulative and inspection tasks much
faster than an ROV. The HARDSUIT™ is also unique in its ability
to adapt to unplanned work tasks and conditions. As a result, the
HARDSUIT™ is often paired with a work class ROV for operational
efficiency and safety.
The HARDSUIT™ QUANTUM is the new, state-of-the-art ADS recently
introduced by OceanWorks. These suits have major advantages over already
proven technology. With quiet running thrusters that are over 3 times
more powerful than older systems, they can lift loads in excess of
90 kilos and handle currents from 1.5 to 2 knots, thus allowing their
safe use in a wider range of conditions and places. When used with
the full Launch and Recovery System (LARS), the suit can also make
excursions up to 200 meters from the TMS and launch point. New electronics
make the QUANTUM comparable to an ROV in relation to navigation and
control features, diagnostics and data transmission.
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