Allseas Supercharges Vessel Fleet with Schilling Hybrid Electric ROVs

Allseas is moving to upgrade its vessel fleet with hybrid electric subsea equipment, ordering Heavy Duty electric, or eHD, remotely operated vehicles from Schilling Robotics. The supplier is owned by TechnipFMC.

The new vehicles will gradually replace the ROVs currently deployed across the Allseas fleet. Their introduction is intended to broaden the range of demanding subsea work that the company’s vessels can perform.

Allseas plans to use the eHD vehicles across subsea construction, pipelay, heavy lift inspection and intervention tasks. The planned replacement program reflects rising demand for more efficient subsea operations and brings electrification directly into subsea support equipment.

Each eHD vehicle combines electric propulsion with hydraulic capability. This configuration gives Allseas access to both forms of operation while supporting the challenging requirements associated with construction, inspection and intervention beneath the surface.

The Schilling vehicles are designed to operate in water depths of up to 6,000 m. That depth capability could also support future deep sea mining operations, extending their potential role beyond the vessel fleet’s existing assignments.

Allseas expects the vehicles’ increased tooling capacity to improve project execution. Greater tooling capability is among several features the company believes will give its project teams more flexibility when planning and delivering offshore operations.

The eHD vehicles are also expected to offer greater manoeuvrability, stronger navigation capability and automated support functions. Allseas anticipates that those features will reduce the amount of time spent offshore while improving the execution of subsea work.

Reducing offshore time is a central part of the expected operational benefit. The company sees the vehicles as a way to support demanding work while giving project teams additional options for organizing and delivering their assignments.

Remote operation is another key benefit cited by Allseas. The capability allows pilots to support offshore activity without necessarily operating from the vessel where the relevant subsea work is taking place.

A pilot could support an operation from another vessel equipped with an eHD system. Alternatively, that support could be provided from an onshore operations center, widening the locations from which specialist personnel can participate in offshore campaigns.

Allseas expects this remote capability to provide greater flexibility when deploying specialist techniques. It should also help the company maintain continuity during complex campaigns, where access to specialist support can remain important throughout the work.

The remote operating model complements the vehicles’ navigation and automated support functions. Together, those capabilities are expected to give project teams more choices in how ROV resources and specialist expertise are assigned during operations.

System monitoring is another focus of the Schilling equipment. Allseas said enhanced monitoring, combined with condition based maintenance tools, should support more effective maintenance planning across the upgraded ROV fleet.

More effective planning is expected to help maximize system availability. The company is therefore looking beyond the immediate operating performance of the vehicles to the maintenance practices required to keep them ready for deployment.

Energy efficient operation is also among the features highlighted by Allseas. Along with reduced dependence on hydraulic components, that efficiency should support cleaner subsea operations while lowering the maintenance requirements associated with the systems.

The order brings together deeper operating capability, remote support, stronger tooling capacity and improved maintenance planning in one fleet upgrade. As the eHD vehicles gradually replace existing units, Allseas expects them to expand operational flexibility across construction, pipelay, inspection and intervention work.