Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (FET) has secured a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence’s specialised Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) unit to supply a new remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
The ROV, designed to enhance the UK’s existing marine defence and emergency response capabilities, will support a range of underwater operations, including wreck surveys and salvage tasks, and is deployable from various vessels.
The ROV system is currently being manufactured at FET’s UK facility in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and is set for delivery in 2025, with sea trials planned in UK waters.
According to FET, this model features mechanical arms with dexterity akin to human arms and can be equipped with various sensors and tools, enabling it to perform complex underwater tasks both through the water column and on the seabed.
Kevin Taylor, FET’s Vice President of Operations for Subsea, commented, “We are extremely pleased that FET has been selected again by SALMO for an additional ROV system. This is one of the most versatile systems on the market and has the capabilities required for the tasks that it will undertake for the SALMO team. We look forward to delivering the solution on time next year.”
This contract follows a voluntary transparency notice issued in July 2024, with the agreement covering a two-year support solution, spares package, vessel integration and sea trials support, as well as a comprehensive training package. The ROV contract also allows for potential upgrades to ensure the vehicle remains equipped to meet evolving needs.
The acquisition adds to SALMO’s fleet following the successful deployment of a previously supplied FET ROV in early 2024, which was notably used to recover the bell of the USS Jacob Jones, a U.S. Navy destroyer sunk in 1917 during World War I. Andy Liddell, Head of SALMO, remarked on the achievement, “A momentous amount of work has gone into preparing what has been a complex contract in a very short time. The project team have pulled together and demonstrated a holistic and agile route to procurement. It was a great feeling to sign the contract and move us into the next stage.”
In addition to supporting defence operations, FET’s subsea products are widely used across multiple industries, including energy, telecommunications, mining, aquaculture, and academic research
