DroneQ Robotics and Mark Offshore have struck a deal on the latter’s new fleet addition RV Mintis. Mark Offshore manages and operates the DP1 ROV support and survey vessel. DroneQ now has the exclusive rights to deploy the vessel for its own projects, Intertek projects, and third-party projects.
DroneQ Robotics is an unmanned robotics services provider, while Mark Offshore is an offshore support and vessel management company. From now on, DroneQ can deploy the Mintis as ROV support and survey vessel, offering the platform as a combination of vessel, ROV equipment and services, and drone equipment and services. The two companies have already been collaborating for many years.
Mark Offshore has recently taken on the management and operations of the multi-functional research and survey vessel RV Mintis for its owners, Klaipėda University from Lithuania.
Also read: Subsea support vessel Mintis joins Mark Offshore fleet
ROV systems
New ROV systems on board RV Mintis include:
- The X-SV, OCROV Class I ROV system (2026) rated for 350 metres working depth with 4K inspection camera, 4K electronic pan-tilt 220° hemispheric panoramic camera, 4.5 knots speed, DVL, built-in adjustable obstacle detection and avoidance system, USBL, imaging sonar, side scan sonar, UT and CP probes, underwater cavitation cleaning system, water sampling system and a 2-function gripper system.
- The advanced Argus Rover, OCROV Class II ROV system (2025) with WCROV capabilities rated for 1000 metres working depth, advanced station keeping system with Sonardyne SPRINT-NAV INS + DVL, USBL, subsea 3D imaging capabilities powered by Voyis Discovery Stereo with VSLAM technology, imaging sonar, UT, CP and FMD NDT probes, onboard high pressure and flexiclean underwater cleaning systems, and a HydroLek 5600 manipulator skid (50 kgs lifting capacity at full reach). The 3D system comes with a 20ft control room/workshop DNV certified offshore container and a 10ft winch DNV certified offshore container.
Inspection drones
In addition, RV Mintis will be equipped with industrial maritime inspection drones, designed to take-off from and land on vessels at open sea, for offshore wind turbine and offshore oil and gas installation aerial inspections.
RV Mintis
RV Mintis is a DP1 vessel with a long track record in combining operational and cost efficiency in shallow and deep waters. It has the capability to conduct a wide variety of advanced unmanned robotics services (AURS) for the ports, offshore oil and gas, offshore wind and salvage markets.
DroneQ Robotics will deploy the vessel for projects such as subsea inspection and construction work with ROVs, and magnetic crawler robots, offshore drone inspection, salvage support and survey tasks. It is often deployed for bathymetric surveys, UXO campaigns, pipeline and cable sub bottom surveys and ecological oceanographic research.
Mark Offshore states that the companies’ cooperation has already resulted in first project in the very first week of the company’s commercial management of RV Mintis.
Picture (top) by DroneQ Robotics.
Also read: Queen Máxima christens NIOZ’ high-tech research vessel
