THE demand for highly skilled remotely operated vehicle (ROV) staff in the oil and gas industry is currently at an all-time high.
Fuelled by the search for oil in ever deeper waters and utilising numerous strands of technology, the world of ROVs is breaking new ground to develop ever more sophisticated vehicles. And as the demand for ROVs increases, so does the need for ROV pilots and technicians.
One of the world’s most prestigious subsea training schools, The Underwater Centre, in Fort William, offers a seven-week intensive training course that will provide aspiring ROV pilots/technicians with the skills required to embark on a career in the industry.
In its simplest form, an ROV is an array of battery-powered positional thrusters arranged to facilitate movement in water. These are controlled from the surface via an umbilical which supplies power and thruster commands and also carries images from the ROV’s digital camera system.
Depending on the role the ROV is undertaking, other equipment such as manipulating arms and cutting, drilling or welding tools can be attached to the ROV. This makes ROVs a very versatile asset to oil exploration companies, especially at depths that are inaccessible to divers.
The skills of piloting an ROV are second only to the ability of the ROV team to ensure that the vehicle is in the water and doing its job. With oil exploration vessels costing hundreds of thousands of pounds a day, time really is money. Planned maintenance, system checks and emergency repairs are all carried out by the pilot team, often in remote locations, with the nearest parts shop a lengthy helicopter ride away.
The high demand for ROV pilots/technicians has resulted in pay rates increasing, in some cases quite dramatically. A newly qualified, inexperienced pilot/technician straight from an ROV course can expect to earn about £150 per day. ROV team leaders, who generally have several years’ experience, can earn four times this amount.
The Underwater Centre’s seven-week course covers every aspect of ROV flight and maintenance, thus ensuring that pilots and technicians are trained to deal with every eventuality.
For more information, visit www.the underwatercentre. co.uk, or call 01397 703786.