The Kerala Maritime Board is set to introduce remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater exploration in a new project. This initiative will be implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The unmanned ROVs, along with necessary manpower and application expertise, will be provided by Hie Capital Technologies, a maritime technology consultancy based in Kerala. The project aims to use ROVs for underwater inspection, marine wreck exploration, pipeline monitoring, oil exploration, and studying coral reefs and marine life habitats.
Scheduled to be launched in January 2025 at Kollam port, this project will involve the board providing infrastructure facilities to Hie Capital while taking on a management role. Hie Capital has already conducted bathymetric surveys and subsea data processing in various ports across the country to support the establishment of the ROV project. Components for the ROVs will initially be imported from Europe and the United States, with plans to eventually develop materials locally in Kerala.
A crucial part of the project is the need for trained ROV operators, pilots, and technical staff. Currently, there are no institutions in Kerala offering training for ROV operators. To address this gap, a course for ROV operators and technical staff will be established at TKM Engineering College in Kollam. By hiring students from the college and providing them with the necessary training, the project aims to develop a skilled workforce to operate and maintain ROVs effectively.
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