ROV intervention for effective cable burial-an overview of recent achievements

Since the early 1980´s there have been significant advances in remotely operated vehicle (ROV) intervention for effective cable burial and maintenance. The early generation ROVs were primarily designed to undertake an inspection and repair function only and had limited capability for the burial of final splices and repair bights. More recently, the work scope of cable intervention ROV systems has been extended to undertake significant portions of post lay burial of cable systems. This paper charts some of the historical events and advances which have led to a generation of new vehicles which are significantly advanced in technological terms compared to their earlier counterparts. It is however worth noting that many of the old systems still remain in use today and SCARABs I and II are still in use some 13 years since first being built