The UK’s Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) team, previously issued three Prior Information Notices (PINs) regarding their interest in procuring a deep-water work class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and its supporting equipment.
An additional PIN is being issued, offering further insight into the estimated contract notice release and the potential involvement of UK and overseas contractors.
The expectation is to have a UK prime contractor handle both manufacture and support, with the possibility of subcontracting some components to overseas companies.
In the notice, the SALMO team extended its gratitude to all firms that showed interest in supplying the intended procurement of equipment following the previously released PINs, issued on 21st June, 27th July, and 27th November 2022.
This fourth PIN is “to advise Industry of the continued intent to publish a contract notice for the potential procurement of a deep-water work class Remotely Operating Vehicle and supporting equipment”.
Revised Schedule
Originally, the SALMO team had plans to issue a contract notice for this requirement, contingent upon the agreement of funding within the financial year 2022/2023. However, the timeline has now been revised with the contract notice’s release now estimated for the first part of the financial year 2024/2025.
The indicative timeframe for the contract award is expected to fall within the financial year 2025/2026. Further clarity on timings will be communicated via subsequent PINs.
The Requirements and Procurement Details
There has been further development regarding the procurement requirements. It has now been confirmed that “there is a requirement for the system to be procured and supported via a UK prime contractor”.
The intended procurement includes at least one deep-water, work class ROV system, along with the launch and recovery system, control, workshop, and support containers.
The ROV should be capable of “object manipulation and high-resolution imagery up to a depth of 6000m” and should be deployable through standardised freight transport. In addition to the main equipment, the procurement also includes a training and an in-service support solution package for a minimum of one year.
The Role of UK and Overseas Contractors
While a UK prime contractor is required for manufacture and support, the door remains open for overseas companies. These companies “shall not be prohibited from involvement in delivering those elements that do not require access to UK sensitive information and are therefore encouraged to seek subcontract opportunities with UK-based prime suppliers”.
In the release of this Prior Information Notice (PIN), neither SALMO nor MoD is committed to any procurement relating to the information contained in this PIN.
The issuance serves as an update to potential suppliers on the ongoing project and the potential future procurement opportunities.
Never mind the PIN, in view of the clear Russian threat to our underwater infrastructure in the N Sea we need to get this sort of kit ordered for the RM ASAP
Reported on Navy Lookout Twitter feed retweet that a used unit has been purchased as an interim measure. Sorry to spoil your daily rant.
You can apologise to me as much and as often as you need to. Grovelling is always appreciated
Don’t make a move: My rant is loaded & I’m not afraid to use it!
These would be used by RN personnel, not the RM 🤦🏻♂️
No surprises then!
“UK and Norway to increase cooperation on undersea capabilitiesThe UK and Norway have agreed to develop a strategic partnership to counter shared threats in the undersea domain, including threats to undersea infrastructure, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.
Speaking at a news conference with Norway’s defence minister, Bjorn Arild Gram, Mr Wallace tells reporters that NATO partners had to work together to make sure the northern flank in Europe was protected.
“As Europe migrates away from Russian gas, Norway becomes even more of Europe’s critical infrastructure,” he says.
“Norway’s gas amounts to around 40% of European gas. It’s not just in the interests of Britain and Norway, it is in the interests of Europe to make sure those infrastructures and energy supplies are not vulnerable to a Russia who is getting more and more aggressive.”
Hundreds of miles of pipelines, cables, interconnectors etc are as vulnerable as the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline that unexpectedly exploded at the start of the Ukraine war. Anything we can do collectively to protect undersea infrastructure is a good investment.
👍
Maybe while they are using this maybe they will find HMS Glorious and then she given protection as war grave under the protection of wrecks act
That would be good – but usualy they sell the savage rights after 75 years and a German firm recovers the metal. As happened with HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy and HMS Hogue, the Live Bait Squadron that was torpedoed off Holland in September 1914
Why has UKDJ not published the excellent news that the plan to equip the Type 31’s with just 6 vertical launch cells has been abandoned and they are now going to get 32 Mk 41’s?
Shh they don’t want the Russians to find out
Did you miss the article published on the 17th?
Heads up there will be a test of the Shipyard alarm at Barrow on the 20th.
Sub contract outside uk? 5 eyes only but pref in house
All our Mineconter measure submersibles PAPS Eca 104s were French that were used on the Hunt class Mcmvs we lagged behind in submersibles design and construction Jeff
Problem with the french ones is they retire early😂🙈
Deep level maintenance was done in Weymouth at a unit on an industrial estate. Went there many times when working at EM2 Group where I was the Level 3 base maintainer on Hunt Minesweeping gear in the 90s…Any excuse for a visit especially on a Friday or Monday because I lived in Weymouth!
Technology in this stuff has advanced massively in past few years as has reliability and uptime. In some places units now stay on seabed between jobs receiving tricklefeed charging in large docking stations while pilots sit in control rooms on the beach connected by satellite or radio rather than while bobing around on boats above alongside the maintenance guys.
However, most time critical jobs still tend to get undertaken by a primary unit with a back up unit in relative close proximity.
Would imagine for most RN needs the units would be relocated very frequently.
Check out the ‘innovation’ section in following:
https://irm.subsea7.com/capabilities/assets/rovs
Gg
Buy more rovs for infrastructure protection, its what will be found by them ,russian autonomous submarine will get a shock ,put a couple of limpet mines on it and boom byebye
Hmm I wonder are they for following the two new carriers around to recover bits that fall off 🙂
SALMO does get and does have some top draw kit. I have worked with them a few times when they do Underwater Engineering work on RN/RFA vessels. Lots and lots of big boys toys.