Deep-water environments with high natural currents expose fundamental limitations across conventional ROV classes:

Compact and inspection ROVs

• Struggle hold station in high currents, resulting in additional data acquisition and onshore processing time during photogrammetry

• Have insufficient bandwidth to transmit large volumes of real-time data from high-resolution sonar sensors when visibility is very low

• Require payload changes between scopes, creating additional launch and recovery cycles, vessel downtime, and extended offshore duration.

Larger work-class ROVs

• Require larger vessels and deck space, increased personnel and higher mobilisation effort, which increases operational complexity

• Introduce cost escalation disproportionate to survey scope

• Increase vessel downtime and cumulative offshore risk due to repetitive recovery and redeployment when moving between work locations

Focus Technology sought a method that would fundamentally change how FPSO mooring chain inspections are executed offshore, reducing reliance on large vessels while improving data quality and operational safety.

VALOR was selected because it uniquely combines compact deployment with work-class capability on specific scopes, enabling Focus Technology to execute demanding inspection and excavation scopes with a significantly smaller operational footprint.

High-current performance in deep waters

High forward and lateral agility ensures control even in high currents. The ROV can hold station during photogrammetry and excavation tasks, resulting in cleaner datasets

Full inspection capability in a compact form

Digital, high-bandwidth architecture supported integration of third-party survey sensors, typically restricted to larger ROV systems, including positioning systems, photogrammetry cameras, motion sensors and hi-res sonar

10GB ethernet architecture

This ensures rapid capture and end-to-end transmission of high-volume data, to provide clear, high-resolution feedback to the operators onshore. It also enables simultaneous operation of multiple high-bandwidth sensors, meaning fewer deployments without payload change-outs

Reliability and risk reduction

The vehicle can remain submerged during transit between work sites. This significantly reduces launch and recovery cycles, resulting in improved safety and minimal downtime

VALOR enabled Focus Technology to deliver a service aligned with their mission “to do things differently,” delivering innovative solutions where traditional methods fell short.

Validated a new inspection approach that reduces dependence on large-vessel mobilisation for complex mooring chain assessments.

Demonstrated how compact, high-power ROV systems can unlock safer and more efficient offshore workflows.

The proven capability creates opportunities for broader applications, including pipeline inspection, leak detection, and high-power intervention tasks in other offshore environments.

“The ability to hold station in high currents while capturing high- resolution photogrammetry data was a game changer. VALOR enabled us to deliver a complex inspection scope more efficiently, reducing time and cost without compromising data quality or safety. The stability of the platform and quality of the data captured reduced processing time by 50%, enabling delivery of results to the client within 24 hours.”

- Frank Crighton, CEO of Focus Technology Solutions