VideoRay
Pro II ROV and Stenmar’s Miniature Mercury Sonar Couple for
Recovery of Crashed Helicopter
Gilgeous Diving Services
Uses VideoRay Pro
and Mercury Scanning Sonar
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New Orleans, LA, February 10, 2003 – At Underwater
Intervention, VideoRay and Stenmar Sonavision Ltd. announced
today that Stenmar’s new, ultra compact “Mercury”
scanning sonar and Minerva surface control unit have been integrated
with the VideoRay Pro II ROV (remotely operated vehicle). Gilgeous
Diving Services of Liverpool, England, has successfully used the
Mercury guided Video Ray Pro II on three recent projects. VideoRay
can be seen in booth 543 and Stenmar Sonavision in booth 225 B at
the Underwater Intervention conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention
Center in New Orleans, LA.
For one project, Gilgeous used the VideoRay to locate and record
the wreckage of a private aircraft lost some years ago in the Moray
Firth area. Gilgeous is also using the VideoRay for an ongoing project
in the North Sea sector.
Barely the size of a soda can (79mm diameter by 140mm long), the
Mercury is the world’s smallest frequency tuneable 360-degree
scanning sonar and weighs only 1.2 kg (0.4 kg in water). Tuneable
in 1 KHz steps from 600 to 1200 KHz, Mercury can locate long-range
obstacles up to 100m and high-resolution capabilities for short
ranges. Mercury comes in three housings and depth ratings: 300m
with a plastic housing; 1000-3000m in a stainless steel housing;
and 6000m in a titanium housing. This makes it ideal for use on
the VideoRay and smaller observation class ROVs and AUVs, yet powerful
enough for larger observation and work class vehicles.
Gilgeous Diving Services uses the VideoRay because it is less
intrusive than a diver and can be used in sensitive areas such as
archaeological surveys and fish farming, in addition to in pipelines,
culverts, ship hull inspections, water and chemical tanks, polluted
waterways, wreck location and surveys, and on deep dives. The company
reports that is uses the VideoRay as an observer and sentinel for
divers working or decompressing in the water.
Brian Gilgeous, managing director of Gilgeous Diving, says, “Mercury
is an extremely impressive sonar with stunning performance at long
and close ranges. Combining it with the powerful, compact VideoRay
Pro II provides me with one of the highest performing small ROV
packages on the market and enables me to work quickly under extremely
challenging conditions.”
The VideoRay system was supplied by and is supported by the UK
agent Atlantas Marine (www.atlantasmarine.com).
Since its launch a few months ago, more than 25 Mercury sonars
have been supplied to a broad range of ROV, AUV, and military clients
for applications including ROV surveying, mine detection, and detonation
work. Stenmar is also developing a diver hand held version of Mercury.
About Stenmar Sonavision Ltd
Stenmar Sonavison Ltd is a leading provider of underwater products
and services for the oil & gas and fishing sectors as well as
research institutes and military and naval forces. They manufacture
a wide range of world-class underwater products, including scanning
and obstacle avoidance sonars, through water communication, seabed
classification systems and camera systems. Stenmar also provides
ROV hire, sub sea trials and precision engineering services. Through
overseas offices and approved agents, Stenmar currently works with
over 47 countries worldwide. For further information visit www.stenmar.com
About Gilgeous Diving Services Ltd
Gilgeous Diving Services, a professional diving company, offers
a range of services to clients in a diverse range of projects and
industries. The company is involved in marine civil engineering
ships husbandry, inspection underwater welding and cutting, for
a range of clients including marine civil engineers, dock and harbour
authorities, power stations and petro chemical plants. For more
information about Gilgeous and VideoRay, visit http://www.extremeoceaneering.co.uk/remote%20operated%20vehicle.htm
About VideoRay
VideoRay ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) are the smallest, most
portable, and most responsive remotely operated vehicles for underwater
site surveys and offshore inspections. Weighing just 8 pounds, the
VideoRay Pro II works in all visibilities, fits in a helicopter
and through a submarine hatch, and works with many accessories for
collecting data underwater.
FOR IMAGES ONLINE:
Visit http://www.videoray.com/Press_Room/photo_gallery.htm
VideoRay LLC • 400 Eagleview Blvd. • Exton, PA 19341
USA • Phone: (610) 458-3000 • FAX: (610) 458-3010 •
www.videoray.com
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names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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