University of Limerick is looking to acquire a marine remotely operated vehicle (ROV) suitable for inspection and intervention on marine renewable energy (MRE) infrastructure.
The acquired ROV should be a vehicle with good thrust to drag ratio developed for subsea applications.
The system is required to have high precision positioning and navigation systems, camera and lighting systems, sonar (including accommodation of sonar systems already in the possession of the University of Limerick) and other sensors, robot manipulator systems for intervention tasks on energy converter devices, cables, moorings, risers, and anchorage.
The MRE ROV system will be housed at Limerick Docks where ROV systems experimentation, testing and demonstration will be carried out. For offshore operations with the MRE ROV, the system will be mobilised from Limerick port or alternatively can be transported to other ports.
The contract is valued at €1.9 million, with the duration set for 24 months.
The Mobile & Marine Robotics Research Centre (MMRRC) at the University of Limerick is focused on the application and development of practical and industrial relevant marine technologies including vehicle control systems and sensor development for ROVs and unmanned aerial systems operation in challenging marine environments.