USC starts work on underwater robot for offshore projects

MOSCOW. June 1 (Interfax) - Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has begun developing a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) for offshore project.

"United Shipbuilding Corporation is working on building domestic remotely operated unoccupied underwater vehicles on behalf of Gazprom. There are plans to use them for, among other things, building infrastructure for and developing offshore oil and gas fields," the companies said in statements after a working meeting between USC board chairman Georgy Poltavchenko and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

Poltavchenko and Miller also discussed progress on the construction of an ice-resistant platform for the development of the Kamenomysskoye-more field. "USC group companies are now building the side and central part of the substructure of the platform, as well as the auxiliary drilling module and energy system," the companies said.

They also discussed prospects for cooperation, including organizing centralized servicing and repair of floating drilling rigs and other Gazprom marine facilities at USC shipyards.

It was reported earlier that Gazprom deputy CEO Vitaly Markelov had called for the Industry and Trade Ministry and USC to sign a government contract for R&D work on a system with an underwater ROV. It was said at the time that the ROV could weigh up to 100 tonnes and a diving depth of up to 3,000 meters.

Since 2015, western sanctions against Russian offshore oil and gas exploration and production projects have led to many foreign ROV makers refusing to work with the country, including provision of technical support for equipment already in use. Furthermore, in August 2019 the United Kingdom banned exports of work class underwater vehicles, software and associated technology to Russia.