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VideoRay ROV Assists French Divers In Helicopter Crash Salvage Operation - February 02, 2009

VideoRay ROV Assists French Divers In Crash Salvage Operation
A VideoRay Pro 3 GTO accompanied 10 divers in the search for the crashed helicopter and the victims that were on board.

French News Article Translation:

The wreck of the Cougar helicopter, which crashed on January 17 offshore of Gabon, immediately following its take-off of the French Navy ship TCD Foudre, was brought back to the surface. The salvage operation was done between January 22~25 under 35 metes of water.

The salvage operation was done by a team of about ten divers dispatched from Toulon, with the assistance of the SIGMA corporation that supplied a VideoRay Pro 3 GTO submarine robot. Before the helicopter was to be hoisted back on to he TCD Foudre, two days were necessary to attach the proper lifting hardware to the helicopter.

Only two of the ten military officers on board survived the accident.

Read and View Pictures From The French Website Meretmarine.com

Read the ABC News Article About The Crash

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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PRESS

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.