Kongsberg signs LARS contract with Ocean Infinity

Kongsberg Maritime has signed its first contract with Ocean Infinity to deliver a launch and recovery system (LARS) for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

Developed to handle remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) from unmanned vessels, LARS will be installed by Ocean Infinity on its Armada fleet of robotic vessels.

Kongsberg noted that the system is an essential component in a system designed to ensure that subsea operations can be carried out without requiring people at sea.

With this system in place, ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can be deployed by teams based onshore.

Kongsberg Maritime Deck Machinery and Motion Control executive vice-president Lisa Edvardsen Haugan said: “The new LARS solution is developed in close collaboration with the Ocean Infinity team. It benefits from a unique combination of our advanced subsea technologies, reinforced with years of accumulated offshore expertise.

“We believe this will be a game changer. We expect to see more companies transition to using unmanned vessels to reduce operational costs and increase safety.”

Use of the new system is expected to increase the safety of ROV operations.

LARS is said to be environmentally sustainable as it makes use of a purely electric drive system that significantly reduces the need for maintenance.

Launch and recovery will take place through the moon pool, with the release and capture of the ROV occurring under the sea surface.

With this, the possibility of damage to the ROV from impact with the vessel hull can be eliminated. Launching and recovery can also be performed in higher sea states.

Source: offshore-technology.com

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