Rampion Phase 2

Utility ROV Services were contracted by Hughes Sub Surface Engineering Ltd to conduct boulder relocation operations on the Rampion OWF for a second time. This scope was increased to include rock bag installation and controlled flow excavation operations. Our client had three separate requirements on this project:

1. Route Clearance – repositioning of boulders from a new cable lay route. This included relocation and visual ‘as-found’ and ‘as-left’ surveys.
2. Deploy pairs of protective rock bags either side of an exposed subsea cable.
3. Excavate ‘trial’ trenches using the UTROV® with Controlled Flow Excavator (CFE) to determine if seabed conditions were suitable for a follow-on cable burial scope.

The route clearance scope of work extended to include visual survey of potential unexploded ordnance and shallow water boulder relocation. Utility ROV Services re-designed and manufactured the Rock Bag Deployment Tool (RBDT) to allow safe, autonomous deployment of two 4t rock bags simultaneously. The UTROV® system was pre-configured and supplied for crane deployment.

This was a showcase project for the UTROV® system as it utilised multiple tools to complete the various phases without the requirement for costly intermediate mobilisations. The vessel was only brought into port to be re-loaded with rock bags.