Page 604 - The ROV Manual - A User Guide for Remotely Operated Vehicles 2nd edition

604 CHAPTER 22 It’s the Little Things That Matter
22.1.3 Operational considerations 22.1.3.1 Operations on and around vessels
The following should be considered when conducting any ship hull inspection:
• The bridge of any vessel to be inspected must be informed prior to commencing the dive to determine if any conditions are present that are hazardous to ROV or vessel operations.
• When launching and recovering the vehicle, attention must be paid to any submerged obstructions in and around the deployment platform or vessel to be inspected.
• Where ROV operation is required within and around the operating structure of the inspection vessel, care must be taken to ensure that the tether or umbilical is not snagged or damaged.
22.1.3.2 Operations from the vessel of opportunity while station-keeping
The following principal points shall be noted in all ROV operations from vessels utilizing station- keeping:
• Vessel shall not be moved without the prior knowledge of the ROV operator.
• The ROV shall be launched as far away from thrusters as practical.
• The tether shall be manned at all times.
• Vehicle buoyancy shall be slightly positive.
• Good communications must be maintained between the ROV operator and the helm to ensure that the ROV operator is aware of all actions regarding the relative positions of the ROV and vessel.
22.1.3.3 ROV operations with divers in the water
Concurrent ROV/diver operations may potentially carry an increased risk to the diver for various reasons, including possible entanglement, mechanical contact between the diver and the vehicle, and various other areas of interference. Diver safety is paramount. Observe the following guidelines during all in-water concurrent operations:
• As an integral part of any industrial operation, a pre-job briefing session should be conducted with all concerned operators. Once the customer representative, vessel or facilities operator, and vendor personnel agree upon the proposed operation, the ROV supervisor shall brief his/her crew (Section 22.1.4).
• During the operational crew briefing, the diving supervisor should establish a perimeter around the diver that the ROV should not penetrate without express permission and positive approval from the diving supervisor. The ground fault interrupt (GFI) system on the ROV system should be fully operational and tested.
• Consideration should be given to thruster ingestation of items belonging to the diver. The possible foreign object damage to the thrusters and diver injury could be avoided through thruster guards or through properly stowing diver tooling.
• The sequence for diver/ROV deployment will directly affect the possibility of a diver/ROV umbilical entanglement. The ROV should be deployed to the dive site with the tether fully lain to the work site before the diver is cleared to the area. The diver should work and then clear the