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54MTRNovember/December 2011products To tackle the strong currents in Australia?s offshore oil & gas fields, Cal Dive International (Australia) Pty Limited, selected Saab Seaeye?s Panther XT Plus ROV (Zone Rated and configured for operations in haz- ardous areas). Although intended pri- marily for inspection work on oil & gas platforms, sub-sea completionsand associated pipelines, Cal Dive says, ?It has the muscle to do whatev- er needs to be done.? Cal Dive points to the fact the Panther XT Plus has 10 powerful thrusters, has 50% more power and swims 30% faster than any other elec-tric work ROV of its class. The Panther?s configuration chosen by Cal Dive includes a Seaeye wide- angle low-light black & white camera and a Kongsberg compact color zoom camera. Also a Tritech Super SeaKing sonar with dual frequency sonar head, and a Tritech altimeter with auto altitude option. Fitted to the ROV are two Schilling Orion manip- ulators: starboard side, a seven func- tion position feedback manipulatorwith 3.8-in. gripper, and port side, a four function rate manipulator with7.8-in. gripper. For debris clearance, the Panther comes with a rotary disc cutter and a 38mm anvil cutter. There is also a water jetting system, a cleaning brush assembly and manipu- lator-held cleaning brush tool. A Cygnus ultrasonic thickness gauge comes with the ROV, together with a CP proximity probe to check anode protection. In the case of an emergency the ROV is fitted with a battery operated emergency locator strobe. The ROV system includes a stain- less steel framed tether managementcage with 150m of tether cable, andits own Seaeye mini camera. Also supplied through Saab Seaeye?s West Australian distributor, Oceanvision, is a control container and a self-erect- ing launch and recovery A-frame with 1100m umbilical cable capacity, a certified bullet assembly and lock latch assembly with snubber rotator. Reassuringly for Cal Dive the new Panther XT Plus has evolved from the proven Panther concept into a more powerful vehicle with an increased payload and re-designed frame that allows more space for additional equipment and a greater range of tools and sensors. Cal Dive Employs Panther for Extreme Conditions RJE Debuts ?Seeker?RJE International introduced a solution to marking and relocating equipment or sites in deep-water environments where only subsea vehicles operate. Working with Falmouth Scientific Inc, RJE developed a full line of acoustic directional receivers that can be fitted on ROVs, AUVs, and submersibles. Called the Seeker, these small compact directional receivers can track and locate common underwater acoustic bea- cons that operate from 25 to 40Khz. In addition, the Seeker receivers can also become an interrogator to accurately locate underwater transponders. Designed to operate in depths of up to 6000m, the Seeker acoustic receivers interface with the vehicle through a RS232 data interface and software is provided with the unit. Applications include aircraft ?Black Box Recovery? using a ROV, AUV emergency homing system, and support of a submersible navigation system. www.rjeint.com MTR#9 (50-64):MTR Layouts 11/29/2011 9:34 AM Page 54