What is an ROV?
There are of course some problems when using an ROV. Mechanical maintenance is usually straightforward to repair however electronic maintenance requires extensive electronics knowledge. Spare printed circuit boards are kept on board to make any repairs required a much quicker process removing the need to return to shore. The leading cause of vehicle loss is entanglement. This is where the power line gets caught or trapped while the ROV is travelling underwater. This is a constant threat that the pilot must be aware of whilst operating. It is estimated that around 80% of power is drained through umbilical drag.
Pictures taken by Tom Jervis
There are many examples of ROVs being used in Maritime Archaeology. For example in 1985 at Loch Ness, Scotland a crashed WW2 Wellington Bomber 70m below the surface was surveyed using an ROV. It was too deep for a scuba survey therefore the ROV 'Sea Pup' was used in the process of its recovery. The Mary Rose fieldwork in 2003 included using an excavation ROV to remove the top layer of silt that had covered the wreck leaving the delicate excavation to be done by divers with airlifts.
There are training facilities for ROV pilots around the world. Theres one based in The Underwater Centre in Fort William on the shore of Loch Linnhe, Scotland. The job of ROV pilot entails much travel and mainly off shore based work. ROVs are not only used in Maritime Archaeology but also in the oil industry among others where they are used in laying oil lines and surveying the sea bed.
To see our ROV visit the bookmark HLF Engaging New Audiences and look at our Mini ROVs.