By SMD
SMD has been awarded a contract by i?Tech (a division of Subsea 7) to supply twenty (with options for up to a further ten) QX?Ultra work class ROVs. The ROVs will be used by Subsea 7 in Brazil, working for Petrobras. The award is SMD’s single biggest ROV order to date and positions the company as the leading supplier of Work Class ROV (WROV) systems in expanding international markets.
Commenting on the award, Andrew Hodgson, CEO at SMD said: “SMD has been Subsea 7’s WROV manufacturer and supplier for over four years. This contract was won through competitive tender designed to ensure i?Tech’s WROV equipment remains at the forefront of technology. Having evaluated the market I am delighted that i?Tech has chosen to continue its long standing relationship with SMDâ€.
The QX?Ultra is an evolution of the successful medium size Centurion QX WROV designed and built for i?Tech by SMD. Utilising the latest Curvetech™ components and technologies, many from SMD’s newest vehicle Atom, QX?Ultra offers the flexibility to undertake a wide range of tasks whilst being easy to use and maintain.
In addition to the WROVs, SMD will design and manufacture the A?frame and winch systems to create a complete turnkey package. SMD remain the only Work Class ROV manufacturer with the ability to design and manufacture WROV launch equipment.
SMD has invested heavily in both its production facilities and people over the past two years to enable it to produce up to 3 complete WROV systems (including launch equipment) per month. The first twenty QX Ultras will be delivered over an 18 month period. SMD will also open a service office in Macae in Brazil and is committed to further developing its supply chain in Brazil.
SMD is one of the world’s leading subsea engineering companies, designing and manufacturing Work Class ROVs, trenching systems, subsea mining machines and tidal generation devices. They have a worldwide customer base operating in oil and gas, telecoms, mining, salvage, renewables, defence and scientific markets. SMD currently has offices in the UK, USA and Singapore.
With over 650 personnel globally, and over 80 ROVs permanently deployed (together with access to Subsea 7′s additional fleet of 50 plus ROVs), i?Tech is currently the world’s second largest provider of ROV support services to exploration and production industry, operating out of four regional centers: Europe & Africa, Brazil, Asia?Pacific and North America and project specific locations globally. (www.InterventionTechnology.com)
