Oceaneering International, Inc.

George Kotula

Thomas Knight Tolman

Gary Wieboldt

Duane Martin Baker, Iii

Anthony Louis Kopera

Jeffery Neal Ledda

Bruce Brian Brown

Christopher Embree Wong

The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull. In a further embodiment, a remotely operated work class vehicle, which is typically able to be deployed from any platform outfitted to accept its launch, recovery and support equipment and which may further be innately unstable when not adhered to an underwater structure such as when flying through open water, comprises a frame; an inspection sensor; a hydraulically powered, high pressure water jet pump; a predetermined tooling set connected to the housing; and a propulsion system, which includes a suction device, configured to propel the remotely operated work class vehicle about a surface.

Subsea structure cleaning apparatus and method

Growing community of inventors

Crownsville, MD, United States of America

George Kotula