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VideoRay Pro III Helps Locate Missing Diver in Scotland - April 05, 2004

Buccaneer Confirms Visual of Diver on Seabed Within 90 Minutes of Launching Underwater Robot Equipped with Sonar – Pro III assists in search after attempts by police divers were unsuccessful and called off due to weather conditions.

VideoRay announced today that Buccaneer Ltd, of Aberdeen, located the body of a diver in Scotland using a VideoRay Pro III underwater robot equipped with sonar. Recovered April 2 by authorities, the body was confirmed by family to be that of 50-year-old Neil Robertson, who had been missing since March 13 during a 23-meter wreck dive on the SS Shuna in the Sound of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. After attempts by police divers were unsuccessful and called off due to weather conditions, Strathclyde Police Underwater Unit called in Buccaneer Ltd., a marine equipment sales, rental, and project services company in Aberdeen, Scotland.

“We put our equipment and expertise at police disposal,” says Hugh Mackay of Buccaneer, whose company sells VideoRays and provides field services for missions using VideoRays. The VideoRay Pro III (www.videoray.com) is a tiny, video-equipped underwater robot that can travel up to depths of 300 meters. Using a VideoRay Pro III and two sonars from Tritech International (www.tritech.co.uk), Mackay’s team confirmed a visual of the diver on the seabed of the second search sector within 90 minutes.

According to Mackay, he relied on GPS man-over-board position of the last surface sighting of the diver and wind and current information provided by the Strathclyde Police Underwater Unit. The unit was confident that the limits of the search area could be defined within a 100-meter square beyond the stern of the wreck, which lies in 34 meters of water in a small bay on the North coast of the Sound. The M-O-B position was 30-40 meters astern of the wreck, and this was the first search sector Mackay’s team investigated. They then moved to a second search sector, 40 meters further astern and slightly inshore of the first.

According to Mackay, the relatively flat silty bottom features occasional rock outcrops and debris from the wreck. Tidal flow (0.5 knot) is low, water temperature is presently an average 8 degrees Celsius, and visibility varies from 2 to 5 meters dependent on the weather.

“With these conditions in mind, the search methodology was to employ a Tritech SuperSeaKing sonar system, mounted on our heavy-duty deployment tripod,” says Mackay. “We would then identify sonar targets within the search area that could then be investigated using our VideoRay Pro III, fitted with Seasprite sonar.” Mackay had just acquired the VideoRay Pro III at a trade show the previous week in London. It was intended that the VideoRay Pro III, a display model for the new product, would to be returned to the U.S. Instead, the VideoRay was proven in the field in days.

“The sonar was deployed and presented us with a very promising return, distinct from other targets in the sector,” says Mackay. “We launched the VideoRay and were able to confirm that we had found a diver on the seabed.” Mackay’s team had arrived on the scene aboard the dive charter boat Peregrine at 10am and confirmed the visual at 11:25 am. The VideoRay also confirmed for Police that the weight of the police marker buoy was within visual distance of the find.

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.