VideoRay Underwater Robot Lost at Sea for a Year is Found in Working Order After Journey in Australian Seas
8-Pound Remotely Operated Vehicle Lost During Fish Farm Inspections Washes Ashore
Tasmania, Australia (PRWEB) November 22, 2004 -- A little over a year ago, a
VideoRay underwater robot was lost off Tasmania, Australia, during an inspection
of salmon fish pens. After drifting over 30 km in rough seas, the VideoRay was
found by Bruny Island local residents, Mary Richards and Martin Watson.
Interestingly, Martin is an ex scuba diver and dive instructor, and he
immediately recognized what the pair had found.
“We are not sure how long
the VideoRay spent in the water, but it would have drifted well over 30km,” says
Simon Hills of Imbros, an Australian VideoRay Dealer. “It was lost near Dover
and drifted across D'Entrecasteaux Channel and was found washed ashore near
Jetty Beach on the Labillardiere Penninsula on Bruny Island.
According
to Hills, when the VideoRay was found it was immediately handed over to local
police, who eventually tracked it back to the fish farm company and then to
Imbros. The VideoRay was lost during an inspection by Huon Aquaculture Company
P/L, an Atlantic Salmon farming organization. Huon Aquaculture had been using
the VideoRay for environmental monitoring surveys below and around fish farms,
and for checking video systems and the deployment of underwater video systems in
pens.
“The unit looks a bit second hand, with a smashed up float block
and scratches on thruster and camera and light domes. But as soon as it was
returned to us, we plugged it in, and everything is fully operational!” says
Hills, who is providing a new control box, tethers, and side thrusters to put
the VideoRay back into operation at Huon Aquaculture.
VideoRay ROVs are
the smallest, most portable, and most responsive remotely operated vehicles
available for use in underwater environments. Weighing just 8 pounds and
starting at $5995 USD, VideoRays are used for underwater surveys, offshore
inspections, search and rescue, homeland defense, science, fish farming, and a
range of applications.
For pictures and videos online, visit
videoray.com/Press_Room/press_release.htm
For more information, contact:
Simon Hills, Imbros, Ph +61 3 6273 1300, Fax +61 3 6273 1824, e-mail: e-mail
protected from spam bots
Contact VideoRay Public Relations: Kayla
Patenaude, ph: 603-428-3013; e-mail protected from spam bots
Contact
VideoRay LLC • 400 Eagleview Blvd. • Exton, PA 19341 USA • Phone: (610) 458-3000
• FAX: (610) 458-3010 • videoray.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb180807.htm