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Norwegian Company Introduces VideoRay Swimming Video Camera to Aquaculture Industry - March 15, 2001

Camera Enables Daily Inspections without Divers; Helps with Government Regulation

Sub Aqua Tech announced today that it now provides underwater services and sales of remotely operated video technology. Eivind Aarseth is manager and founder of Sub Aqua Tech and worked for the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries as a local Fisheries Advisor since 1992.

Sub Aqua Tech offers services for the aquaculture industry, specifically underwater inspections, aquaculture advisories, environmental investigations, and the sale of VideoRay ROVs (remotely operated vehicles). Sub Aqua Tech performs services with the ROV as a safer, cheaper, and easier alternative to inspection by traditional divers.

Using VideoRay, Aarseth documents underwater conditions and helps companies comply with government regulations. Highly maneuverable, VideoRay is suitable for inspecting salmon, halibut, and scallop farms, including:

Surveys of sea beds to establishing new sites for farming

Inspect and sample polluted sites without spreading diseases

Inspection of cages, quays, moorings, underwater pipelines and cables

Inspection of vessel hulls (zinc anodes, propellers, damage at hull) and moorings for private boat owners and small boat clubs

VideoRay travels up to 500 feet deep, sending video footage from the mini submersible to a monitor with information about time, date, depth and heading. The sub has a high quality light sensitive (0,5 lux) color video camera, which provides high-quality pictures and video. The size of the ROV is 35 cm x 22,2 cm. x 21,6 cm; weight is 3,6 kg; with two 20-watt halogen lights with variable intensity. All information seen on the video screen and can be recorded on ordinary VHS-tapes.

Sub Aqua Tech services include consulting and help with applications and procedures; advice on working with public authorities (proceeding and procedures, legal provisions and regulations); and evaluation of aquaculture sites and assistance with environmental questions. All environmental surveys are done in accordance with Norwegian Standard 9410:2000.

About VideoRay:
With more than 2,000 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in service around the world, VideoRay has clearly become the global leader in Observation ROV technology. VideoRay is an extremely versatile, portable, affordable, and reliable solution for underwater operations including surveys, offshore inspections, search & recovery, homeland & port security, science & research, fish farming, and other unique applications in underwater environments. “Plug and play” technology allows you to quickly attach sensors and accessories in the field so you can successfully complete your mission. VideoRay is available on the General Services Administration.

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WHY VIDEORAY?

AFFORDABILITY

With ROVs starting under $10,000 (in the US), the cost is quickly justified when compared to commercial dive missions or funding the purchase, mobilization, staffing, and operation of larger ROVs.

PORTABILITY

One person can transport the tiny 8-pound sub, control box and tether. The Scout system weighs less than 70 pounds and packs neatly in one rolling Pelican case. All other systems fit in two Pelican cases that can be transported in a car trunk or helicopter, or checked as airline baggage.

USABILITY

Driving the VideoRay is similar to operating a video game. A specially trained ROV pilot is not needed. (In fact, kids raised on video games routinely put adults to shame piloting VideoRay.). VideoRay is equally at home with a search and rescue team as it is with a yacht owner enjoying live views of a coral reef in St. Thomas. Additional controls on advanced models include front camera focus and tilt, rear camera selection and automatic depth holding (see the product detail pages for complete lists of features and capabilities of each model).

SAFETY

Since VideoRay uses less than 500 watts of power, a car or marine battery with inverter, small gasoline generator, or any 100-240 VAC outlet powers the control box and submersible. The current running through the tether to the submersible is a comparatively safe 48 VDC, rather than the possibly lethal 360-plus VDC used by other ROVs. This makes it safe for divers to handle the submersible in the water, and for kids to swim with it in a pool.

REACH

Standard tether lengths vary by model, but additional neutral, negative, and positively buoyant tethers can be added to extend the overall reach of the VideoRay up to 1,100 feet. Tethers are available in a variety of lengths to meet the needs of particular water conditions or projects.